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Painless lung function testing for children with asthma or breathing concerns. Shishuka Children's Hospital, Bangalore. Accurate spirometry, same-visit results.
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A simple, painless breathing test that measures how well your child's lungs are working — essential for diagnosing asthma, tracking severity, and checking how well treatment is controlling symptoms.
A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), most commonly performed as spirometry, measures how much air your child can breathe in and out, and how quickly. Your child breathes into a mouthpiece connected to a machine that records lung volumes and airflow, giving pediatric pulmonologists objective, measurable data on lung function — something that can't always be judged accurately just by listening to the chest.
This test is central to diagnosing and managing asthma, since it can detect airway narrowing even before symptoms become obvious, and shows how well a child responds to bronchodilator medication — key information for building an accurate, personalised asthma action plan.
A pediatric pulmonologist may recommend this test if your child has:
Recurrent wheezing or coughing, especially with colds or exercise
A confirmed or suspected asthma diagnosis needing severity assessment
Breathlessness during play or physical activity
Poor response to regular asthma medicines, needing a closer look
A chronic cough lasting more than 3–4 weeks
Ongoing asthma monitoring to track how well a treatment plan is working
The specific test used depends on your child's age and what your pulmonologist needs to assess.
The standard test, usually possible from around age 5–6, measuring how much air your child can forcefully exhale and how quickly.
Spirometry is repeated after a dose of reliever medication (bronchodilator) to see how much lung function improves, a key marker used to confirm asthma.
A simpler, portable version of lung function testing that can be done at home over time, useful for tracking asthma control day to day.
Spirometry performed before and after a period of exercise, used to confirm exercise-induced asthma when symptoms specifically occur with physical activity.
Here's how a pulmonary function test compares to other tools used to assess a child's breathing.
| Investigation | Invasiveness | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirometry (PFT) | Non-invasive | Objective lung function measurement; asthma diagnosis & monitoring | Requires cooperation; usually needs a child aged 5-6+ |
| Chest X-ray | Low-dose radiation | Ruling out infection, structural lung issues | Doesn't measure how well the lungs function |
| Allergy Testing | Minimally invasive | Identifying triggers behind respiratory symptoms | Doesn't measure lung function directly |
| Pulse Oximetry | Non-invasive | Quick check of blood oxygen levels | Doesn't assess airway narrowing or lung capacity |
A quick, comfortable process that most children learn to do easily with a little guidance.
A technician explains and demonstrates the breathing manoeuvre, letting your child practice with the mouthpiece before recording starts.
Your child takes a deep breath in, then blows out as hard and fast as possible into the mouthpiece. This is repeated 3–4 times to get a reliable, consistent reading.
If reversibility testing is part of the plan, your child is given a reliever inhaler and the test is repeated 15 minutes later to see the response.
Results are usually available immediately and reviewed with your pulmonologist the same visit, feeding directly into an updated or new asthma action plan.
Accurate results depend on the right equipment and a patient, encouraging approach with children.
Results interpreted against pediatric-specific reference ranges based on age, height and sex.
Staff experienced in coaching children through the breathing manoeuvre for reliable, accurate results.
Findings reviewed with your doctor immediately, without waiting days for a lab report.
Results directly used to build or update a personalised asthma action plan for home and school.
Available at Kalyan Nagar, RT Nagar, Malleswaram and New BEL Road.
There's no recovery time needed at all — your child can return to normal activities right away. Some children feel briefly lightheaded from the forceful breathing effort, which passes quickly with a short rest.
Since this test is often part of ongoing asthma care rather than a one-time check, your pulmonologist may recommend repeating it periodically to track how well your child's treatment plan is working over time.
A pulmonary function test gives clear, objective answers. Book a consultation with our pediatric pulmonology team.
We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help you find the information you need quickly and easily.
“If you can't find the answer to your question here, please don't hesitate to contact our support team for assistance.”
Most children can perform reliable spirometry from around age 5–6, once they can follow the breathing instructions.
No, completely painless — just breathing forcefully into a mouthpiece.
A basic test takes 15–20 minutes; with bronchodilator reversibility testing, closer to 45 minutes.
Depends on what's being checked — your pulmonologist will give specific instructions.