Wentworth-Halton Swallowing Clinic
Lear Communication offers specialized swallowing assessment and treatment services through the Wentworth-Halton Swallowing Clinic. Services include Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS), also called videofluoroscopic swallowing studies or Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) assessments, along with follow-up treatment options in conjunction with Wentworth X-Ray & Ultrasound and S.L. Hunter Speechworks.
Located in Hamilton, Ontario, this service may help identify swallowing problems and guide recommendations intended to reduce risks such as choking, aspiration, and aspiration pneumonia.
An instrumental swallowing assessment is a detailed examination used to assess how a person swallows food, liquids, and pills. This page explains when a clinical or bedside assessment may be appropriate, when a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study may be recommended, what the test involves, how treatment recommendations are developed, and how to request an appointment.
The process typically begins with a clinical or bedside assessment. The speech-language pathologist reviews the patient’s medical history, observes eating and drinking, and evaluates signs of swallowing difficulty, such as coughing, throat clearing, or changes in voice quality.
A Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study follows a standardized procedure that allows the speech-language pathologist to evaluate how swallowing is functioning.
During the assessment, the patient is given small amounts of food and fluid in different textures and consistencies, including thin and thicker liquids. These are mixed with a contrast material called barium, which allows them to be seen clearly on X-ray.
As the patient swallows, a continuous X-ray video (videofluoroscopy) is recorded. This allows the speech-language pathologist to observe how the structures and muscles involved in swallowing are working and how food and liquid move from the mouth through the throat and into the esophagus. The study can help identify whether material enters the airway or remains stuck after swallowing.
The results help guide recommendations regarding food textures, liquid thicknesses, swallowing strategies, supervision, and appropriate therapy techniques. Recommendations are individualized according to the assessment findings and may help support safer and more efficient eating and drinking.
Gold Standard of Care
Our clinicians conduct thorough swallowing assessments for people with swallowing difficulties related to stroke and other neurological or medical conditions. Recommendations may follow the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) guidelines, which provides standardized terminology for food textures and liquid thicknesses.
The Wentworth-Halton Swallowing Clinic provides a private outpatient option for people seeking swallowing assessment services. The imaging portion of the assessment may be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan when eligibility and referral requirements are met. The speech-language pathology assessment and interpretation are privately funded.
Indicators for a Swallowing Assessment
If you experience any of the following, a swallowing assessment and/or treatment may be beneficial:
✅ Coughing, gagging, or throat clearing during or after eating
✅ Feeling of food or pills “stuck” in the throat
✅ Food remaining in the mouth after swallowing
✅ Slow chewing or prolonged mealtime
✅ “Wet” or gurgly-sounding voice after eating
✅ Food falling from the mouth
✅ Pain while swallowing
A swallowing assessment can also provide patients, families, and caregivers with individualized strategies for eating and drinking. Depending on the findings, treatment may include swallowing exercises, compensatory strategies, food or liquid modifications, caregiver education, or referrals to other healthcare professionals.
Booking an Appointment
A physician referral is required when requesting a Modified Barium Swallow or VFSS assessment. The MBS/VFSS Referral Form must be completed by the referring physician.
- Download Physician’s Requisition Form
- Email or Fax completed form to Lear Communication, info@learcomm.ca , F: 905-667-1443.
In partnership with
Testing Location
Your assessment will be conducted at Wentworth-Halton X-Ray & Ultrasound. 1 Young Street, Unit #105, Hamilton, ON
T: 905-522-2344
Resources
View: Clinic Brochure
Download: Physician’s Requisition Form
please contact our office for information on pricing & fees and appointment availability
We’re here to help! Contact us for more information or to schedule an assessment and treatment.
