COM Treatment Planning & Intervention Strategies 3

Question 1

A COM clinician is treating a patient with low tongue posture and a history of prolonged pacifier use until age 5. Which treatment goal should be prioritized FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Establishing correct resting tongue posture on the palate

Answer

Correct resting tongue posture is the foundational goal because it supports palatal development, nasal breathing, and proper swallowing mechanics.

Question 2

Which clinical indicator would lead an orofacial myologist to SHORTEN the planned number of treatment sessions for a pediatric patient?

Accepted Answer

Rapid habituation of correct patterns with excellent home compliance

Answer

When a patient demonstrates rapid motor learning and consistent carryover, the treatment timeline can be appropriately condensed without compromising outcomes.

Question 3

During a treatment session, a patient demonstrates correct tongue tip placement at rest but reverts to low tongue posture when distracted. This stage is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Conscious competence — correct pattern requires active attention

Answer

Conscious competence means the patient can perform the correct pattern but only with deliberate attention; further therapy aims to make it automatic.

Question 4

A 10-year-old patient is referred for myofunctional therapy but the parent reports the child resists all home exercises. What is the MOST effective treatment planning adjustment?

Accepted Answer

Increase session frequency and simplify the home program to one exercise per day

Answer

Increasing session frequency to compensate for low home compliance while simplifying the home program to a single achievable task maximizes engagement and progress.

Question 5

An orofacial myologist receives a referral for a patient with a significant ankyloglossia. Before beginning tongue elevation exercises, what is the required step?

Accepted Answer

Document severity and refer to a physician or surgeon for frenuloplasty evaluation

Answer

Significant ankyloglossia restricts the range of tongue motion required for therapy goals; surgical evaluation must precede exercises that depend on adequate lingual frenum mobility.

(COM) Certified Orofacial Myologist Practice Test

(COM) Certified Orofacial Myologist Practice Test

COM Treatment Planning & Intervention Strategies 3