Canopy Therapy Solutions Insights

What Is FEES? FEES stands for Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing. It is a safe, well-established test used to check how well a person swallows food and liquids. During the test, a small, thin, flexible camera is gently passed through the nose to look at the throat while the person eats and drinks. The test is performed by a trained speech-language pathologist (SLP), sometimes together with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor. Why Is a Swallowing Test Important?

Mealtimes should be safe, nourishing, and as enjoyable as possible, for every child. But for children living with cerebral palsy (CP), traumatic brain injury (TBI), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or other neurodevelopmental conditions, swallowing can be a hidden challenge that affects health, growth, and quality of life. This blog article is for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and families working together to make feeding safer and more successful. Why Swallowing Can Be

As a private practice SLP owner serving families in both Virginia and North Carolina, one of the most common questions I hear is: "We're moving across the state line. Can we keep working with you?" The answer is rarely a simple yes or no. Dysphagia care is deeply personal, often medically complex, and interruptions in service can have real consequences - from aspiration risk to nutritional decline. Whether you're a clinician planning cross-state care or a family navigating a

Starting or running a private speech-language pathology practice is exhilarating. That is, until the first claim gets denied. For many SLPs, the clinical work comes naturally, but navigating the maze of payer credentialing, enrollment, and billing can feel like learning a second language. The good news? Once the foundational pieces are in place, reimbursement becomes predictable, and the headaches fade. This guide breaks down the essentials every private practice SLP needs to

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, one of the questions I hear most often from families is: "What can we actually do at mealtimes to help?" If your child or loved one has been diagnosed with a swallowing disorder, also known as dysphagia, you already know that mealtimes can feel stressful. The good news is that there are simple, practical swallowing strategies you can use every day, at home and at school, to make eating safer and more enjoyable for everyone at the table. T

As speech-language pathologists, we occupy a unique and critical role on the pediatric dysphagia team. Whether working in the NICU, an outpatient clinic, a school, or a home health setting, the ability to accurately assess and effectively treat swallowing disorders in children can be the difference between a child who thrives and one who faces repeated hospitalizations. This post walks through the core assessment and treatment tools every pediatric SLP should consider having

Whether you are a speech-language pathologist working across the lifespan, a parent watching your infant struggle at the breast or bottle, or a family member helping a loved one recover from a stroke, understanding dysphagia, difficulty swallowing, is the first step toward safer, more confident mealtimes. This article breaks down the essentials: how dysphagia differs in children versus adults, what warning signs to watch for, when to seek help, and what practical strategies c