A Speech Therapist Is Performing a Swallowing Assessment on a 72-Year-Old

Multiple Choice

A speech therapist is performing a swallowing assessment on a 72-year-old man who has suffered a stroke 3 weeks ago. The man has been NPO (nothing by mouth) since his stroke, and the health care team is considering the introduction of oral food. The speech therapist is cueing the client to swallow to preclude either aspiration of food or pocketing of food in the sides of his mouth. The client most likely to have conscious control over which of the following processes listed below involved in swallowing?

A) Initiation of primary peristalsis
B) Moving the epiglottis back to cover the larynx
C) Moving a bolus to the posterior wall of the pharynx
D) Moving the bolus backward in the esophagus