STEP sharing

Normal variability in swallowing means that the swallow can be elicited with the bolus head in the oral cavity or as deep as the pyriform sinuses.

• True!!

• FALSE!!

• I'm not sure!

Allowing certain types of foods (i.e. mixed consistencies) to enter the valleculae before the swallow is initiated is normal and termed 'vallecular aggregation' 

• True!!

• FALSE!!

• I'm not sure!

Swallow initiation times do not vary depending on whether the swallow initiates spontaneously versus when someone tells you to swallow (command swallow). 

• True!!

• FALSE!!

• I'm not sure!

The following is true about swallow trigger:

• It is an all-or-none event 

• It initiates the cascade of swallowing events 

• It has a wide range of normal variability 

• It can be measured

• All of the above 

Hyoid movement is a representation of numerous muscles that control its movement and is patterned by the brainstem and multiple cranial and spinal nerves. 

• True

• False

• I'm not sure!

Pick one statement which is NOT true about normal Laryngeal Vestibule Closure (LVC): 

• he laryngeal vestibule is open during non-swallow periods to allow breathing 

• The laryngeal vestibule closes during swallowing at various levels

• Laryngeal Vestibule Closure marginally impacts swallowing safety

• Laryngeal Vestibule Closure can be measured 

• Laryngeal Vestibule Closure relies on lingual movement 

LVC relies on movements due to the following sources: 

• a) movements caused directly (brain programs muscles to contract causing movement) 

• b) movements caused indirectly (forces applied by a nearby structure) 

• c) Both A&B

• d) None of the above 

UES opening relies on the following to open normally (please select two responses):

• large bolus volumes

• hyoid elevation

• laryngeal elevation

• relaxation

• lingual elevation 

The UES is responsive to bolus volume in the following way: 

• Larger bolus volumes lead to longer opening durations 

• Larger bolus volumes lead to shorter opening durations 

• This is a trick question. The UES is a part of the reflexive component of swallowing and is not responsive to bolus volume. 

Timing involves events that consider only the bolus, only physiology, or a combination of both. 

• True

• False

• I'm not sure