Dysphagia: Pediatric Swallowing and Feeding Disorders Exam Latest
Updated 2025 Questions With Detailed Answers
In general, is indirect or direct behavioral intervention more appropriate for
infants, young children, or cognitively impaired older children? - ANSWER-Indirect
interventions involving environmental modifications
What intervention is suggested for older children? - ANSWER-May be able to
perform maneuvers and exercises described for adult population, depending on
cognitive skills
What are some important considerations for treatment planning? - ANSWER-
Goals, strategies, and procedures/techniques must be continually reviewed
Caregiver/parent involvement must be encouraged
Communication among members of the team must be maintained and encouraged
Does pediatric feeding and swallowing focus on teaching infants and younger
children compensatory maneuvers? - ANSWER-No
We do not deliberately intervene to attempt to teach compensatory maneuvers
until the child is at least 3 years old because development needs to fully takes its
course
,What things are you trying to improve through infant and child treatment? -
ANSWER-Improve postural alignment and control
Improve coordination of respiration with oral and pharyngeal activity
Improve sensory and sensorimotor response
Improve oral motor activity
Improve pharyngeal activity
What is the goal of oral-motor treatment? - ANSWER-The development of the
appropriate use of the mouth, respiratory, and phonatory systems in exploration,
sound play, and as much oral feeding as possible
Lip closure, jaw movements, tongue movements are facilitated for more mature
movement patterns
Oral feeding is the by-product of the program, not it's major goal
What is the goal of feeding therapy? - ANSWER-Oral feeding is both a long-term
and short-term goal
Improve the mechanisms of swallowing and sucking; works toward the use of food
and liquid in the program
What is the most suitable therapy for a child with neurological issues? - ANSWER-
Oral-motor treatment
,Young Infant: Oral Cavity - ANSWER-Smaller overall
Totally filled by the tongue
Small and slightly retracted lower jaw
Sucking pads
Soft palate and epiglottis in contact at rest
Young Infant: Larynx, hyoid, and eustachian tube - ANSWER-Larynx and hyoid
cartilage are higher in the neck and closer to the base of the epiglottis
Eustachian tube runs horizontally from the middle ear into the nasopharynx: can
be a contributing factor to chronic ear infections in infants/children
What is the purpose of the anatomical differences? - ANSWER-Create additional
protective (velum positioning) and learning systems (stimulation is heightened)
which may not be present in the older infant or child with severe swallowing
dysfunction
What results from the small infant oral cavity? - ANSWER-Creates abundant
sensory input to the tongue, giving information on spatial and movement
relationships within the mouth
Supports the lesser neurological coordination of the young infant
, What results from the sucking pads? - ANSWER-Support a more efficient sucking
pattern as the infant gradually develops the coordination of the jaw, lips, cheeks,
and tongue to support oral feeding
Initially developing older child: sucking pads - ANSWER-The sucking pads are
reduced or absent for an older child developing the sucking coordination of the
newborn; early coordination lacks the anatomical support available to the
newborn with this degree of oral control
What results from the contact of the soft palate and epiglottis? - ANSWER-Helps
keep food in the mouth until the pharyngeal swallow is initiated
When the soft palate and epiglottis grow away from each other and are no longer
in contact, the baby looses a valve that protects airway
Older infant/child with poor oral control: contact of soft palate and epiglottis -
ANSWER-May have food fall over the back of the tongue into the valleculae or
airway before the swallow is triggered
What results from the higher position of the larynx? - ANSWER-Provides additional
protection of the airway: more anterior position in the neck and less likely to
aspirate
Updated 2025 Questions With Detailed Answers
In general, is indirect or direct behavioral intervention more appropriate for
infants, young children, or cognitively impaired older children? - ANSWER-Indirect
interventions involving environmental modifications
What intervention is suggested for older children? - ANSWER-May be able to
perform maneuvers and exercises described for adult population, depending on
cognitive skills
What are some important considerations for treatment planning? - ANSWER-
Goals, strategies, and procedures/techniques must be continually reviewed
Caregiver/parent involvement must be encouraged
Communication among members of the team must be maintained and encouraged
Does pediatric feeding and swallowing focus on teaching infants and younger
children compensatory maneuvers? - ANSWER-No
We do not deliberately intervene to attempt to teach compensatory maneuvers
until the child is at least 3 years old because development needs to fully takes its
course
,What things are you trying to improve through infant and child treatment? -
ANSWER-Improve postural alignment and control
Improve coordination of respiration with oral and pharyngeal activity
Improve sensory and sensorimotor response
Improve oral motor activity
Improve pharyngeal activity
What is the goal of oral-motor treatment? - ANSWER-The development of the
appropriate use of the mouth, respiratory, and phonatory systems in exploration,
sound play, and as much oral feeding as possible
Lip closure, jaw movements, tongue movements are facilitated for more mature
movement patterns
Oral feeding is the by-product of the program, not it's major goal
What is the goal of feeding therapy? - ANSWER-Oral feeding is both a long-term
and short-term goal
Improve the mechanisms of swallowing and sucking; works toward the use of food
and liquid in the program
What is the most suitable therapy for a child with neurological issues? - ANSWER-
Oral-motor treatment
,Young Infant: Oral Cavity - ANSWER-Smaller overall
Totally filled by the tongue
Small and slightly retracted lower jaw
Sucking pads
Soft palate and epiglottis in contact at rest
Young Infant: Larynx, hyoid, and eustachian tube - ANSWER-Larynx and hyoid
cartilage are higher in the neck and closer to the base of the epiglottis
Eustachian tube runs horizontally from the middle ear into the nasopharynx: can
be a contributing factor to chronic ear infections in infants/children
What is the purpose of the anatomical differences? - ANSWER-Create additional
protective (velum positioning) and learning systems (stimulation is heightened)
which may not be present in the older infant or child with severe swallowing
dysfunction
What results from the small infant oral cavity? - ANSWER-Creates abundant
sensory input to the tongue, giving information on spatial and movement
relationships within the mouth
Supports the lesser neurological coordination of the young infant
, What results from the sucking pads? - ANSWER-Support a more efficient sucking
pattern as the infant gradually develops the coordination of the jaw, lips, cheeks,
and tongue to support oral feeding
Initially developing older child: sucking pads - ANSWER-The sucking pads are
reduced or absent for an older child developing the sucking coordination of the
newborn; early coordination lacks the anatomical support available to the
newborn with this degree of oral control
What results from the contact of the soft palate and epiglottis? - ANSWER-Helps
keep food in the mouth until the pharyngeal swallow is initiated
When the soft palate and epiglottis grow away from each other and are no longer
in contact, the baby looses a valve that protects airway
Older infant/child with poor oral control: contact of soft palate and epiglottis -
ANSWER-May have food fall over the back of the tongue into the valleculae or
airway before the swallow is triggered
What results from the higher position of the larynx? - ANSWER-Provides additional
protection of the airway: more anterior position in the neck and less likely to
aspirate
