CMT Techniques & Approaches 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which breathing retraining technique involves having the patient inhale through the nose for 4 counts, hold for 7, and exhale through the mouth for 8 counts?
- Box breathing
- 4-7-8 breathing (Correct answer)
- Diaphragmatic pacing
- Pursed-lip breathing
Correct answer: 4-7-8 breathing
The 4-7-8 technique conditions relaxed nasal breathing patterns and is used in myofunctional therapy to establish nasal dominance.
Question 2: When a myofunctional therapist uses a 'button pull' exercise, the primary target muscle group is:
- Buccinator and orbicularis oris (Correct answer)
- Genioglossus and hyoglossus
- Masseter and temporalis
- Palatoglossus and styloglossus
Correct answer: Buccinator and orbicularis oris
Button pull exercises strengthen the lip seal muscles—buccinator and orbicularis oris—by resisting outward traction on a button threaded through the lips.
Question 3: In the PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) approach adapted for myofunctional therapy, tactile cues are applied to which area to facilitate tongue elevation?
- The mandible inferior border
- The alveolar ridge behind upper incisors (Correct answer)
- The vermillion border of the upper lip
- The angle of the jaw
Correct answer: The alveolar ridge behind upper incisors
Tactile cues at the alveolar ridge guide the tongue tip to the correct rest and swallow posture just behind the upper incisors.
Question 4: A therapist instructs a patient to 'click' the tongue repeatedly against the palate to strengthen which muscle?
- Mylohyoid
- Genioglossus
- Palatoglossus (Correct answer)
- Styloglossus
Correct answer: Palatoglossus
Tongue-click exercises build palatoglossus strength and increase tongue-to-palate contact pressure.
Question 5: Myofunctional therapists often use a palatal expander compliance check as part of orthodontic co-treatment. The therapist's role is to:
- Adjust the expander appliance directly
- Reinforce correct tongue posture against the palate to support expansion (Correct answer)
- Prescribe the expansion schedule
- Monitor cephalometric radiographs
Correct answer: Reinforce correct tongue posture against the palate to support expansion
The therapist teaches proper tongue-to-palate resting posture so natural tongue pressure supports and maintains orthodontic expansion.
Question 6: Which technique specifically targets velopharyngeal closure and is used when hypernasality accompanies an orofacial myofunctional disorder?
- Masako maneuver (Correct answer)
- Effortful swallow
- Continuous positive nasal pressure (CPAP) exercises
- Lee Silverman Voice Treatment
Correct answer: Masako maneuver
The Masako (tongue-hold) maneuver increases posterior pharyngeal wall movement and velopharyngeal closure force.
Question 7: During tactile facilitation for tongue tip elevation, a therapist places a small amount of peanut butter or food coloring just behind the upper incisors. This method is classified as a:
- Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation cue
- Gustatory/visual feedback cue (Correct answer)
- Vestibular stimulation technique
- Craniosacral release approach
Correct answer: Gustatory/visual feedback cue
Using taste or visual color as a target behind the incisors provides gustatory and/or visual feedback to guide tongue placement.
CMT Techniques & Approaches 2
Which breathing retraining technique involves having the patient inhale through the nose for 4 counts, hold for 7, and exhale through the mouth for 8 counts?