Baystate Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Medical Center offers the innovative diagnostic service, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) to patients who have difficulty swallowing.

FEES uses fiberoptic video imaging and provides the same high quality diagnostic evaluation as the Modified Barium Swallow (MBS), but without requiring radiographic exposure. It can be performed as an outpatient procedure at our 360 Birnie Avenue location, in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

We use FEES to assess the function of the swallowing mechanism at the velopharynx, oropharynx, pharynx, and larynx. The clinician introduces a flexible fiberoptic transnasally to the patient’s hypopharynx, allowing a clear view of laryngeal and pharyngeal structures. With the diagnostic findings, our clinician then provides appropriate diet recommendations and swallowing strategies and/or exercises on an outpatient basis.

We are currently accepting new patients for the evaluation and treatment of various speech, language, cognitive, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders. Our speech-language pathologists are Nadia Dorval, MA, CCC-SLP, and Natalie Powers, MS, CCC-SLP. Ms. Dorval is fluent in both English and Spanish. They will meet privately with each patient and offer individualized assessments and treatments.

A physician referral or prescription is required for this service we provide. To refer a patient for the FEES procedure, the physician will need to write a prescription stating: “Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), evaluate and treat.” If you have any questions, please call Nadia Dorval at 413-794-0285.