CMT CMT Breathing & Airway Disorders 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which structural issue most commonly causes pediatric mouth breathing and may require surgical intervention?
- Tongue tie
- Enlarged adenoids or tonsils (Correct answer)
- High palatal vault
- Lip incompetence
Correct answer: Enlarged adenoids or tonsils
Enlarged adenoids or tonsils are the most common structural cause of pediatric mouth breathing and may require adenotonsillectomy before myofunctional therapy.
Question 2: How does chronic mouth breathing affect facial development in children?
- Wider palate development
- Longer, narrower face with a high palatal arch (Correct answer)
- Increased mandibular prognathism
- Broader nasal passages
Correct answer: Longer, narrower face with a high palatal arch
Chronic mouth breathing leads to adenoid facies: a long, narrow face, high palatal vault, and dental crowding due to altered muscle forces on developing bone.
Question 3: What is the primary role of the diaphragm in proper nasal breathing mechanics?
- It filters airborne particles
- It is the primary muscle of inhalation creating negative pressure (Correct answer)
- It controls nasal valve opening
- It regulates CO2 levels
Correct answer: It is the primary muscle of inhalation creating negative pressure
The diaphragm is the primary inspiratory muscle; its contraction creates negative thoracic pressure that draws air through the nasal passages during proper breathing.
Question 4: A patient reports waking with a dry mouth and sore throat every morning. Which myofunctional issue does this MOST suggest?
- Tongue thrusting during sleep
- Nocturnal mouth breathing (Correct answer)
- Hypersalivation
- TMJ dysfunction
Correct answer: Nocturnal mouth breathing
Dry mouth and sore throat upon waking are classic signs of nocturnal mouth breathing, where oral airflow desiccates mucosal tissues overnight.
Question 5: Which oropharyngeal exercise has research support for reducing snoring and mild sleep apnea severity?
- Lip stretching exercises
- Tongue and soft palate strengthening exercises (Correct answer)
- Jaw opening exercises
- Cheek puffing exercises
Correct answer: Tongue and soft palate strengthening exercises
Studies, including a 2009 RCT by Guimarães et al., show that tongue and soft palate exercises significantly reduce snoring frequency and apnea-hypopnea index scores.
Question 6: In myofunctional therapy, 'nasal patency' refers to what?
- The ability to smell correctly
- Clear, unobstructed airflow through the nasal passages (Correct answer)
- Nasal septum straightness
- Nostril symmetry
Correct answer: Clear, unobstructed airflow through the nasal passages
Nasal patency means the nasal airway is sufficiently open and clear to allow adequate airflow for comfortable nasal breathing at rest.
CMT CMT Breathing & Airway Disorders 2
Which structural issue most commonly causes pediatric mouth breathing and may require surgical intervention?