Patient Assessment & Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real COM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Evaluation flashcards as text
A COM practitioner measures Mallampati score during an airway assessment. A Class III score indicates:
Answer: Soft palate and upper uvula visible only
Mallampati Class III means the soft palate is visible but the uvula is partially obscured by the tongue base, suggesting a narrowed airway.
Which finding during the swallowing assessment indicates a lateral tongue thrust pattern specifically?
Answer: Visible posterior molar open bite on the side of tongue intrusion
A lateral tongue thrust can cause a unilateral or bilateral posterior open bite as the tongue pushes between the molars during swallowing.
When taking a case history for an adult patient with suspected orofacial myofunctional disorder, which medication history is most relevant to document?
Answer: Antihistamines and decongestants that may affect nasal patency or salivary flow
Antihistamines can cause xerostomia and affect swallowing mechanics, while decongestants affect nasal breathing — both directly relevant to orofacial myofunctional function.
An orofacial myologist assesses palatal vault height and width. A high, narrow palatal vault is most commonly associated with:
Answer: Chronic mouth breathing and restricted maxillary development
Chronic mouth breathing deprives the palate of the normal tongue pressure that promotes lateral maxillary expansion, resulting in a high, narrow arch.
During assessment, a clinician observes that a patient cannot maintain lip seal for more than 5 seconds during a timed task. This finding documents:
Answer: Orbicularis oris endurance deficit
Inability to sustain lip seal reflects orbicularis oris muscle endurance weakness, which is a core target of orofacial myofunctional therapy.
In orofacial myofunctional assessment of a toddler (age 2–3), which non-nutritive sucking behavior is within developmentally expected limits?
Answer: Pacifier use during daytime only with gradual weaning in progress
At age 2–3, pacifier use during limited contexts with active weaning is developmentally appropriate; significant dental changes from habits typically emerge after age 4.
Which observation best differentiates a skeletal anterior open bite from a dental anterior open bite during orofacial myofunctional assessment?
Answer: Open bite that corrects with postural jaw changes and does not close on command
A skeletal open bite persists even when the patient attempts to bite down or changes posture, while dental open bites may show more variability with repositioning.