Swallowing & Dysphagia Management Flashcards
7 cards from real SLP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Swallowing & Dysphagia Management flashcards as text
A 70-year-old patient with dementia is refusing thickened liquids and pureed foods. The family insists on a regular diet. According to ethical principles guiding SLP practice, which approach is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Conduct a risk-benefit discussion with the team and family, document informed decision-making, and honor the patient's autonomy if cognitively capable of expressing preferences
Patient autonomy and informed consent are core ethical principles; the SLP should provide clear risk information, document the discussion, and respect the patient's right to make informed dietary decisions.
Which of the following best describes the 'super-supraglottic swallow' technique and its PRIMARY purpose?
Answer: Breath hold with bearing-down effort before and during swallow to tilt the arytenoids anteriorly and close the laryngeal vestibule before the swallow
The super-supraglottic swallow adds a bearing-down (Valsalva) effort to the supraglottic technique, which tilts the arytenoids anteriorly to close the laryngeal inlet before the swallow begins, providing maximal airway protection.
A patient with bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) presents with dysphagia. What is the MOST likely mechanism contributing to aspiration in this population?
Answer: Failure of vocal fold adduction to protect the subglottis during swallowing
In BVFP, the inability of the paralyzed vocal folds to adduct compromises the last line of laryngeal airway defense, increasing aspiration risk during swallowing.
Which imaging modality is preferred for evaluating esophageal phase dysphagia and structural abnormalities such as strictures, webs, or Schatzki rings?
Answer: Barium Esophagram (cookie swallow/full column study)
The barium esophagram (including cookie/tablet swallow) is the gold standard for visualizing structural esophageal pathology such as strictures, webs, Schatzki rings, and diverticula.
Thermal-tactile application (TTA) with a cold laryngeal mirror to the anterior faucial pillars is used in dysphagia therapy primarily to:
Answer: Heighten sensory awareness and facilitate earlier pharyngeal swallow trigger
TTA uses cold stimulation at the anterior faucial pillars to heighten sensory input to the pharyngeal swallow trigger zone, potentially reducing the latency of pharyngeal swallow onset.
A patient presents with odynophagia (painful swallowing), dysphagia, and weight loss. MBSS is normal. What is the MOST appropriate next clinical step?
Answer: Refer to gastroenterology for upper endoscopy to evaluate esophageal or mucosal pathology
Odynophagia with a normal MBSS suggests a structural or mucosal esophageal pathology (e.g., eosinophilic esophagitis, stricture, mass) requiring endoscopic visualization beyond the scope of MBSS.
Which of the following is a TRUE statement about the IDDSI framework as it applies to SLP clinical practice?
Answer: IDDSI uses a continuous scale from 0-7 covering both drinks (0-4) and foods (3-7), with Levels 3 and 4 applying to both
IDDSI is a universal 0-7 scale: Levels 0-4 describe drinks and Levels 3-7 describe foods, with Levels 3 and 4 appearing in both continua to bridge the transition between liquid and solid textures.