Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

What symptom indicates the need for a swallowing evaluation?

1. Temperature elevation shortly after eating

2. Pocketing of food and wet voice during meals

3. Increased thickness of secretions after drinking milk

4. Complaints about quality and taste of food

The correct answer is: Pocketing of food and wet voice during meals

The presence of pocketing of food and a wet voice during meals signifies a potential swallowing dysfunction. Pocketing refers to the retention of food in the cheeks or mouth, which can indicate an inability to adequately manage food in the oral cavity. This may lead to aspiration, where food or liquids enter the airway instead of the esophagus, posing serious health risks such as pneumonia or choking. A wet voice, characterized by a gurgling or wet sound during speech, often results from liquid pooling in the throat, suggesting that a person may not be able to clear their airway effectively after swallowing. Both of these symptoms strongly indicate the need for a swallowing evaluation by a professional to assess the individual's swallowing ability and the risk of aspiration. In contrast, the other symptoms presented do not directly imply a need for a swallowing evaluation. For instance, temperature elevation shortly after eating might suggest a response to food intake or could be unrelated to swallowing capabilities. Increased thickness of secretions may occur for various reasons and does not exclusively indicate swallowing difficulties. Complaints about the quality and taste of food, while important, are more subjective and do not reflect the physical mechanics of swallowing that would necessitate an evaluation.