Dysphagia Tests

Dysphagia is a term that means difficulty swallowing. Usually, when you swallow, food moves easily from your mouth, down your throat, and into your stomach. During this process, the food travels through a muscular tube called the esophagus.

It's normal to occasionally have trouble swallowing, such as if you don't chew some food well enough or if you eat too fast. But if you have dysphagia, trouble swallowing is an ongoing problem. It can take more time and effort to move food from your mouth to your stomach.

When you try to swallow liquids, food, or even your saliva, you may cough or choke. Swallowing may be uncomfortable or painful, and these issues may even stop you from swallowing. Dysphagia can happen at any age, but it's more common if you are an older adult or if you have certain neurologic diseases.

Many different conditions can cause dysphagia, and some of them can be very serious. Dysphagia tests can diagnose different types of dysphagia and may help screen for or diagnose various conditions that can cause it. It's important to get a diagnosis, because if you have dysphagia and don't treat it, you might be at risk for: Choking; Dehydration (a loss of too much fluid); Malnutrition (not getting enough food for your body to work properly); Aspiration (food or liquids getting into your airway), which can lead to pneumonia;

Why this test is done

You may need this test if you have symptoms of dysphagia. These can include:

• Coughing or gagging when swallowing
• Feeling of food being stuck in your throat
• Pain when swallowing
• Being unable to swallow
• Food or liquids coming back up through your throat or mouth, including from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Frequent heartburn
• A hoarse or weaker voice
• Weight loss
• Drooling

If food has gotten stuck in your airway and you're having trouble breathing, call 911 for help right away.

How to prepare

Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours or more before your test. You may be asked to avoid doing anything that will coat your throat, such as smoking, chewing gum, or sucking on hard candy.

You may need to stop taking certain medicines before the test, so tell your provider about everything you take. But don't stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to.

You may also want to make a list of your swallowing problems ahead of time. Then, you can share them with your provider during your test.

If you are having an upper endoscopy, you will be given a medicine that can make you drowsy, so you should arrange for someone to take you home.

Sample type

Tissue/Biopsy

Other names for this test

bedside swallow, clinical swallow, dysphagia screening tool, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES), barium swallow, esophagram, videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS), upper endoscopy