COM Nasal Breathing & Airway Function 3

Question 1

The primary goal of orofacial myofunctional therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is to:

Accepted Answer

Strengthen oropharyngeal and tongue muscles to reduce airway collapsibility during sleep

Answer

OMT targets oropharyngeal muscles—including the tongue, soft palate, and lateral pharyngeal walls—to increase their tone and reduce the tendency for airway collapse during sleep.

Question 2

Which orofacial myofunctional pattern in children is most strongly associated with pediatric sleep-disordered breathing?

Accepted Answer

Low tongue rest posture combined with habitual open mouth posture

Answer

Low tongue rest posture and open mouth posture together allow the tongue to fall posteriorly during sleep, reducing oropharyngeal airway dimensions and contributing to SDB.

Question 3

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is incorporated into orofacial myofunctional evaluation primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Screen for excessive daytime sleepiness that may indicate underlying sleep-disordered breathing

Answer

The ESS is a validated questionnaire that measures daytime sleepiness across eight common situations; high scores prompt consideration of sleep-disordered breathing as an underlying condition.

Question 4

Research has demonstrated that orofacial myofunctional therapy can reduce the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in adults with OSA primarily through:

Accepted Answer

Strengthening dilator muscles of the upper airway to maintain patency during sleep

Answer

OMT exercises targeting the tongue, soft palate, and pharyngeal muscles increase muscle tone, reducing the passive collapse of these structures that causes apnea events.

Question 5

Which breathing retraining approach, sometimes integrated into orofacial myofunctional therapy, focuses on reducing breathing volume to normalize carbon dioxide tolerance?

Accepted Answer

Buteyko breathing method

Answer

The Buteyko method teaches reduced-volume nasal breathing to raise CO2 tolerance, alleviate chronic hyperventilation, and reinforce nasal breathing habits.

(COM) Certified Orofacial Myologist Practice Test

(COM) Certified Orofacial Myologist Practice Test

COM Nasal Breathing & Airway Function 3