Functional Oral Intake Scale
Measure your patient's oral intake capabilities with the Functional Oral Intake Scale. Download the free PDF template and example to get started.
Fact Checked by Nate Lacson.
What is a Functional Oral Intake Scale?
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a disorder that affects the ability of an individual to swallow properly. It is most commonly caused by neurological damage or conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and cerebral palsy.
Healthcare professionals use the (FOIS) to assess a patient's food swallowing capability. This tool is designed to measure the effectiveness of a patient's oral intake.
The FOIS has seven levels, each denoting a different type of oral intake ability. It provides clinicians with an understanding of how much and what types of food and liquids the patient can consume without risk of aspiration.
Printable Functional Oral Intake Scale
Download this Functional Oral Intake Scale and assess the oral intake capabilities of your clients.
How does this Functional Oral Intake Scale work?
Our free Functional Oral Intake Scale template is fully digital and straightforward. Here's how to get started:
Step One: Download the template
Access the free Functional Oral Intake Scale template using the link on this page. You can also get it from the Carepatron app or our resources library.
Step Two: Input the patient’s details
Complete the patient's information section at the top of the form. This should include their name and date.
Step Three: Assess the patient’s oral intake abilities
Evaluate each level according to your patient's abilities, starting from level one and working up. Check the box of the appropriate level that best describes the patient's oral intake capabilities.
Step Four: Write any observations
At the end of the form, you can add any observations or comments relevant to your patient's assessment.
Step Five: Store the FOIS form
Once you’ve completed the template, store it in your patient's file. That way, you can refer back to it in the future.
Functional Oral Intake Scale example (sample)
We have designed a Functional Oral Intake Scale example to show you how this template is relevant to your practice. This sample is created for a hypothetical patient suffering from dysphagia. You can view the sample here or download the PDF version for reference.
Download the free Functional Oral Intake Scale example (sample)
When to use a Functional Oral Intake Scale PDF?
You can use this Functional Oral Intake Scale PDF whenever you need to assess the oral intake capabilities of your patient. Additionally, you can use the FOIS if or when:
The patient experiences difficulty or is at risk of aspiration
Using the Functional Oral Intake Scale, you can determine the best and safest intervention for a patient's oral intake capabilities. This may include changing the consistency of food or liquids, using modified positioning for feeding, or reducing the risks associated with oral intake.
The patient has a history of dysphagia
If you have a patient with dysphagia, the Functional Oral Intake Scale can help you understand their progress and assess any changes in their condition.
You need to monitor the patient's diet
The FOIS can help you monitor a patient's diet and create the best action plan to ensure they get the nutrition they need.
The patient is undergoing treatment
If a patient is undergoing treatment, such as speech therapy or other dysphagia interventions, then the FOIS can measure the effectiveness of the treatment. This can help you ensure the intervention is appropriate and effective for the patient's needs.
Who is this Printable Functional Oral Intake Scale for?
The Functional Oral Intake Scale is designed for use by healthcare professionals such as:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Dietitians
- Speech therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
You can use the template for adults and children of all ages who are at risk of or experiencing dysphagia. The tool is also suitable for use in hospitals, nursing homes, and community settings.
Why use this Functional Oral Intake Scale app?
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With Carepatron, you can save time and money while improving the quality of care for your patients. We know your time is precious, so we designed Carepatron to be user-friendly with an intuitive interface that makes managing every aspect of your practice simple.
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Commonly asked questions
The Functional Oral Intake Scale is a popular assessment tool for its accuracy and reliability. It enables healthcare professionals to quickly assess the oral intake capabilities of their patients, identify any risks and take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
The FOIS has seven levels of oral intake capability, ranging from 1 to 7. Each level describes what the patient is capable of doing regarding intake abilities.
The Functional Oral Intake Scale should be used whenever a healthcare professional needs to assess the oral intake capabilities of their patient. This can include regular intervals during treatment or as part of a general assessment.
