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Dysphagia is arguably the single most tested topic on the Praxis 5331 — expect 15-20 items spanning assessment (MBSS, FEES, clinical swallow eval), diet modification (IDDSI), and treatment (compensatory strategies, exercises). Scenarios often describe a specific bolus behavior and ask for the next best action.
Try answering before revealing the rationale — mark misses to retry later.
Q1.A patient with a unilateral vocal fold paralysis (left) aspirates thin liquids during MBSS. Which compensatory strategy is MOST appropriate to trial first?
Correct: B. Head turn is TOWARD the weak/damaged side to close off that side of the pharynx and direct the bolus down the stronger side. Left paralysis → head turn LEFT.
Q2.A clinician needs to visualize the pharyngeal phase and airway protection but cannot expose the patient to radiation. The best assessment is:
Correct: C. FEES uses a flexible endoscope through the nose to view the pharynx and larynx directly, with no radiation. Its main limitation is the 'white-out' during the swallow itself.
Q3.Which exercise directly targets base-of-tongue retraction to improve pharyngeal pressure generation?
Correct: B. The Masako maneuver strengthens posterior pharyngeal wall movement toward the tongue base by having the client swallow with the tongue held anteriorly. Shaker targets suprahyoids; Mendelsohn prolongs laryngeal elevation.
Praxis Path unlocks a full question bank + 132-question timed mock exam and spaced-repetition flashcards.
How many dysphagia questions are on the Praxis 5331?
Roughly 15-20 items — the single most-tested clinical area on the exam.
Do I need to memorize IDDSI levels?
Yes — know the 8 levels (0-7), which are drinks vs foods, and be able to match a clinical scenario to the correct level.
MBSS or FEES — which is 'better'?
Neither. MBSS is gold standard for full swallow visualization; FEES is preferred when radiation must be avoided or for real-food testing at bedside.