General
What is the first step when conducting an oral mechanism exam?
Read case history
What is ankyloglossia?
Tongue tie
What is the appropriate resting position for the lips?
Closed
What is the typical color of both the hard and soft palate?
Pink or white
True/False: You should always look at both structure and function as well as use an assessment tool when conducting an oral mechanism exam.
True
True/False: An orofacial exam assesses the resting position of the tongue.
True
How do the lips affect respiration?
Can determine if the client is an oral or nasal breather
What three characteristics are important when assessing the palate?
Size, height, and length
True/False: Consistent speech-sound errors mean that it is strictly a motor planning issue (i.e., no structural differences.
False
What is the appropriate positioning of the tongue in the mouth for resting?
Low in the mouth
Closed lips provide the opportunity for good placement of what structure?
The tongue
A notch in the uvula could mean what two things?
1. Cleft palate
2. Submucous cleft
What are the four facial characteristics that are important within an oral mechanism exam?
1. Symmetry
2. Expression/tone
3. General health
4. Size/shape
What is a characteristic of the tongue that can signal potential mouth breathing?
An elevated tongue in a resting position
What is mild tonus contraction?
Muscular energy that helps us to keep our lips closed, this is something that those with open lip posture do NOT have
A blue tint close to the midline of the palate indicates what?
Submucous cleft
What is the purpose of an oral mechanism exam?
It is important for differential diagnosis, helps you to identify etiologic factors, guides your treatment, helps you to make appropriate referrals, is good for the overall health of clients, and is essential to build rapport and trust within your client
Where is the anatomical placement of the tongue? Why is this important for speech?
Within the arch of the mandible, because it provides articulation space for the tongue tip
What can indicate low muscle tone of the lips?
Lips that are drooping and partially open
If a client has a high arched palate what sounds will they have the most difficulty with?
Alveolar sounds