Radiology
You have been asked to attend for a Videofluoroscopy assessment for your child. This is an assessment of their swallowing and has been advised by your child’s Speech & Language Therapist.
The procedure is a simple one and the information on this page will help you to prepare for the appointment.
If you are unable to attend, please contact us immediately to rearrange. This will allow us to use the appointment for another patient.
What is the examination for?
A Videofluoroscopy uses x-rays to record a video of your child’s swallowing in detail. The study allows us to see how your child is currently managing to eat or drink. It shows whether food or drink gets stuck in their mouth or throat or goes down the wrong way (aspiration).
Please use this link to allow your child to watch a short video of the procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZvVsf2mRZo
Preparation for the test
There is no need to go without food or drink before the assessment. However, your child will need to eat and drink during the assessment, so please try and avoid giving them too much food and drink before the appointment.
It is usually best if they are a little hungry to encourage them to eat.
Please try to avoid any clothing with metal poppers or buttons at the top around the neck area.
You will need to bring some appropriate food and drink for your child. You may be asked to bring foods with different textures such as:
- A drink: formula, milk or juice
- A smooth food: purred food, yoghurt, Weetabix and milk, banana
- A textured or lumpy food: sandwiches, cake, biscuits.
Please also bring the usual feeding utensils you use with your child at home. For example, a bottle and teat, spouted cup or infant spoon and bowl,
If your baby is bottle feeding, it can help to also bring a clean empty bottle and teat, so that some milk can be kept to feed your baby following the assessment
Please also bring some bibs, to protect your child’s clothing from the contrast material.
Medication
Please do not stop taking any prescribed drugs.
What the test involves
In the x-ray room the Advanced Practitioner Radiographer and nursing staff will support you and will ask for your child’s height and weight (it can help to have the red book for this information). You will stay with your child and if appropriate you will be feeding your child during the assessment.
Your child will be safely positioned in a supportive chair or seat.
A small amount of each type of food and drink will be mixed with barium, a safe substance that is used to show up on the x-ray.
As each type of food is being swallowed, a brief x-ray video is taken and recorded.
The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes. If you attend early there is no guarantee that you will be seen before your appointment time.
After the examination
You can return to eating and drinking as normal.
The results of the test
You will receive an explanation of the result from the therapist at the end of the examination.
Is there anything I should tell the staff?
For patients who have ovaries and are between the ages of 12 and 55, the x-ray department has a legal responsibility to ensure that this examination is performed within ten days of the first day of your menstrual period.
Please contact the x-ray department if you are pregnant or if this appointment is beyond the ten day requirement, and another appointment will be arranged for you.
If you have special needs or disabilities, please contact the x-ray department on 01642 282639.
What about transport to the hospital?
Transport has not been arranged for this appointment. If an ambulance is required, please contact your GP at least 48 hours before the appointment date. All car parks are pay and display.
Radiation dose and risk
X-rays use ionising radiation which can cause cell damage that may, after many years or decades, turn cancerous. The risk of this happening is very small compared to the normal lifetime risk of developing cancer which is 1 in 2. We are also all exposed to background radiation every day.
The risk of long-term effects is considered when the healthcare team decide whether someone needs an x-ray examination and radiation doses are kept as low as possible. For this examination radiation dose levels are typically equivalent to around 6 to 12 months of background radiation. The associated risk is less than 1 in 1000 – Low.
Contact us
If you require further information please contact us on:
Telephone: 01642 282639 (Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm)
Email: [email protected]
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]