What term is commonly used for bedside swallow evaluation?

• A. Modified Barium Swallow
• B. FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing)
• C. Instrumental Swallow Test
• D. Bedside Swallow Evaluation

Answer: (D)

The term commonly used for bedside swallow evaluation is Bedside Swallow Evaluation. This name emphasizes that the assessment is done at the patient’s bedside and typically without imaging, serving as a quick screen to judge swallowing safety and decide if further, instrumental testing is needed. It usually involves observing oral motor function, trial swallows with different consistencies, and signs like coughing, throat clearing, or changes in voice after swallowing. In contrast, Modified Barium Swallow and FEES are instrumental tests that require imaging—MBSS uses fluoroscopy with contrast to visualize swallowing, and FEES uses a nasally inserted endoscope to inspect the swallow. Instrumental Swallow Test is a broader term that can refer to these imaging studies, but it doesn’t specify the bedside context, which is why Bedside Swallow Evaluation is the best choice for this question.