Unlock document.
This document is partially blurred.
Unlock all pages and 1 million more documents.
Get Access
1
Lab 1
Chapter 8 Physiology of Mastication and Deglutition
Five-Finger Palpation of Swallowing
To the instructor: The five-finger palpation for swallowing is a good way to demonstrate to students how
a clinician can use palpation to reveal some of the mechanics of swallowing. Students will need gloves
and will need to pair up.
Lab 1
Chapter 8 Physiology of Mastication and Deglutition
Five-Finger Palpation of Swallowing
The five-finger palpation of swallowing is one of the staples of the clinical evaluation of swallowing (also
known as the bedside swallow evaluation). Here are the basics. Realize that you will learn this at the
hands of your expert supervisor, in the clinical setting, and we’re just doing this so you can know what
you’re up to then. You aren’t in a position to assess swallowing until your supervisor has cleared you for
that vital function.
You want to know how robustly your patient or client is swallowing, but you can’t always tell just by
Pair up with a colleague and prepare a cup of water for your colleague. Glove up, as part of universal
hygienic procedures. With your colleague seated, stand next to him or her so that your gloved hand touches his
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. 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 pinky. Do
you feel the larynx elevate? Now integrate those two: You should feel the tongue move, followed quickly
by the larynx elevating and moving forward.
Now do the nearly impossible: Watch a clock while this is happening! If you are good, you’ll notice
