SPEECH & HEARING SCIENCE
SHS 250 FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
A+
Complete Blueprint Coverage
A+ 5 100%
QUESTIONS VERIFIED EXAM DOMAINS COVERED RATIONALES INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System
Acoustics, Resonance, and Speech Production
Language Acquisition and Development
Introduction to Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
,SECTION: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SPEECH MECHANISM
Q1.
A student is reviewing the primary muscle responsible for elevating the soft palate during production of non-nasal
speech sounds. The instructor asks which muscle performs this action most effectively. Which muscle is it?
A. Levator veli palatini
B. Palatoglossus
C. Tensor tympani
D. Superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The levator veli palatini elevates and retracts the soft palate to close the velopharyngeal port for oral speech sounds.
Palatoglossus lowers the soft palate or elevates the tongue; tensor tympani acts on the middle ear; the superior longitudinal
muscle shapes the tongue.
Q2.
During a discussion of respiration for speech, a learner notes that speech is typically produced on exhalation. The
instructor asks which set of muscles is primarily active in forced expiration used for loud or prolonged speech.
A. Internal intercostals and abdominal muscles
B. Diaphragm and external intercostals only
C. Sternocleidomastoid and scalenes exclusively
D. Cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscles
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Forced expiration for speech recruits the internal intercostals and abdominal muscles to increase subglottal pressure. The
diaphragm and external intercostals are primary muscles of inspiration; laryngeal muscles control phonation, not respiration.
Q3.
A clinician is explaining the role of the cricothyroid muscle to a student. Contraction of this muscle has which
primary effect on the vocal folds?
A. Lengthens and tenses the vocal folds, raising fundamental frequency
B. Shortens and relaxes the vocal folds, lowering pitch
C. Abducts the vocal folds for quiet breathing
D. Adducts the vocal folds tightly for coughing only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The cricothyroid rocks the thyroid cartilage forward relative to the cricoid, lengthening and tensing the vocal folds and thereby
increasing fundamental frequency. Shortening is performed mainly by the thyroarytenoid; abduction is by the posterior
cricoarytenoid.
, Q4.
A patient has difficulty with velopharyngeal closure, resulting in hypernasal speech. Which cranial nerve provides
the primary motor innervation to the muscles that elevate the soft palate?
A. Vagus nerve (CN X), via the pharyngeal plexus
B. Trigeminal nerve (CN V) exclusively
C. Facial nerve (CN VII) to the levator only
D. Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) to the palate
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Most soft-palate elevators, including levator veli palatini, are innervated by the pharyngeal plexus of the vagus nerve (CN X).
Trigeminal innervates tensor veli palatini; facial and hypoglossal nerves serve other structures.
Q5.
While reviewing laryngeal anatomy, a student is asked to identify the only intrinsic laryngeal muscle that abducts
the vocal folds. Which muscle is it?
A. Posterior cricoarytenoid
B. Lateral cricoarytenoid
C. Transverse arytenoid
D. Thyroarytenoid
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The posterior cricoarytenoid is the sole abductor of the vocal folds, rotating the arytenoids to open the glottis. The lateral
cricoarytenoid and transverse arytenoid adduct; the thyroarytenoid shortens and relaxes the folds.
Q6.
A speech science student is tracing the path of airflow during production of a voiced bilabial stop. After the vocal
folds vibrate, the air is momentarily stopped at which location?
A. At the closed lips (bilabial place of articulation)
B. At the velopharyngeal port which remains open
C. At the nasal cavities exclusively
D. At the alveolar ridge only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
A bilabial stop is formed by complete closure at the lips; for a voiced stop the vocal folds vibrate while oral pressure builds
behind the lip closure. The velum is raised for oral consonants.
SHS 250 FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GR... STUVIAACTUALEXAM
SHS 250 FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
A+
Complete Blueprint Coverage
A+ 5 100%
QUESTIONS VERIFIED EXAM DOMAINS COVERED RATIONALES INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System
Acoustics, Resonance, and Speech Production
Language Acquisition and Development
Introduction to Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
,SECTION: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SPEECH MECHANISM
Q1.
A student is reviewing the primary muscle responsible for elevating the soft palate during production of non-nasal
speech sounds. The instructor asks which muscle performs this action most effectively. Which muscle is it?
A. Levator veli palatini
B. Palatoglossus
C. Tensor tympani
D. Superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The levator veli palatini elevates and retracts the soft palate to close the velopharyngeal port for oral speech sounds.
Palatoglossus lowers the soft palate or elevates the tongue; tensor tympani acts on the middle ear; the superior longitudinal
muscle shapes the tongue.
Q2.
During a discussion of respiration for speech, a learner notes that speech is typically produced on exhalation. The
instructor asks which set of muscles is primarily active in forced expiration used for loud or prolonged speech.
A. Internal intercostals and abdominal muscles
B. Diaphragm and external intercostals only
C. Sternocleidomastoid and scalenes exclusively
D. Cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscles
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Forced expiration for speech recruits the internal intercostals and abdominal muscles to increase subglottal pressure. The
diaphragm and external intercostals are primary muscles of inspiration; laryngeal muscles control phonation, not respiration.
Q3.
A clinician is explaining the role of the cricothyroid muscle to a student. Contraction of this muscle has which
primary effect on the vocal folds?
A. Lengthens and tenses the vocal folds, raising fundamental frequency
B. Shortens and relaxes the vocal folds, lowering pitch
C. Abducts the vocal folds for quiet breathing
D. Adducts the vocal folds tightly for coughing only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The cricothyroid rocks the thyroid cartilage forward relative to the cricoid, lengthening and tensing the vocal folds and thereby
increasing fundamental frequency. Shortening is performed mainly by the thyroarytenoid; abduction is by the posterior
cricoarytenoid.
, Q4.
A patient has difficulty with velopharyngeal closure, resulting in hypernasal speech. Which cranial nerve provides
the primary motor innervation to the muscles that elevate the soft palate?
A. Vagus nerve (CN X), via the pharyngeal plexus
B. Trigeminal nerve (CN V) exclusively
C. Facial nerve (CN VII) to the levator only
D. Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) to the palate
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Most soft-palate elevators, including levator veli palatini, are innervated by the pharyngeal plexus of the vagus nerve (CN X).
Trigeminal innervates tensor veli palatini; facial and hypoglossal nerves serve other structures.
Q5.
While reviewing laryngeal anatomy, a student is asked to identify the only intrinsic laryngeal muscle that abducts
the vocal folds. Which muscle is it?
A. Posterior cricoarytenoid
B. Lateral cricoarytenoid
C. Transverse arytenoid
D. Thyroarytenoid
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The posterior cricoarytenoid is the sole abductor of the vocal folds, rotating the arytenoids to open the glottis. The lateral
cricoarytenoid and transverse arytenoid adduct; the thyroarytenoid shortens and relaxes the folds.
Q6.
A speech science student is tracing the path of airflow during production of a voiced bilabial stop. After the vocal
folds vibrate, the air is momentarily stopped at which location?
A. At the closed lips (bilabial place of articulation)
B. At the velopharyngeal port which remains open
C. At the nasal cavities exclusively
D. At the alveolar ridge only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
A bilabial stop is formed by complete closure at the lips; for a voiced stop the vocal folds vibrate while oral pressure builds
behind the lip closure. The velum is raised for oral consonants.
SHS 250 FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GR... STUVIAACTUALEXAM
