Reference no: EM133670954
Assignment:
Swallowing Exercise: For this activity, you will need a partner to conduct the five-finger palpation of swallowing. This is an important part of a clinical evaluation (screening) of swallowing.
Scenario: You want to know how robustly your patient or client is swallowing, but you can't always tell just by looking. Swallowing is initiated by movement of the bolus toward the pharynx, elevation and forward movement of the larynx, and then depression of the larynx when the bolus enters the esophagus. There are other elements, of course, but these are the ones we can feel when we palpate. Realize that the tongue moves first, followed quickly by the elevation of the larynx with that forward movement. Remember that elevation of the larynx signals the opening of the upper esophageal sphincter, and you can know that the bolus is entering the pharynx at about the time the larynx elevates.
Pair up with a peer, friend, family member. Prepare a cup of water for them. It is also recommended, though not required, that you glove up for this activity, as part of universal hygienic procedures. With your colleague seated, stand next to him/her so that your gloved hand touches their throat and neck as follows: If you're using your right hand, stand to the right of your colleague and place your hand so that your pinky rests lightly on the thyroid cartilage region, your middle finger rests about where the hyoid bone would be (pretty much at the angle between bottom of mouth and neck), and your index finger rests under the mouth (chin). Your thumb may rest under the mouth, or it can rest on the mandible. Your touch needs to be light because you don't want to interfere with the swallowing process. Ask your "client" to take a sip of water and swallow. What did you feel? Now have your client swallow again, but this time pay attention to your index finger and thumb. You should feel the base of the tongue move as he or she starts the swallow. Now, do the same while paying close attention to your middle and pinky fingers. Do you feel the larynx elevate? Now integrate what you feel with the base of the tongue and the larynx.
Describe the movements of the tongue and larynx that you detected. Then, indicate which area appeared to move first, and which area moved second.