Which interventions are used for the oral preparatory phase?

• A. Removing food from utensils, chewing, and forming a bolus
• B. Swallowing therapy exercises only
• C. Pharyngeal swallows with feedback
• D. Esophageal dilation

Answer: (A)

The oral preparatory phase is about getting the food ready to swallow by chewing, mixing with saliva, and forming a cohesive bolus. Interventions in this phase focus on how the lips, jaw, tongue, and cheeks work together to break down food and shape it into a single unit that can be safely moved toward the back of the mouth.

Removing food from utensils, chewing, and forming a bolus directly target these actions—practicing how to take food from a spoon or fork, chew it effectively, and shape it into a swallowable bolus. That’s exactly what the oral preparatory phase entails, making this option the best fit.

Swallowing therapy exercises and pharyngeal swallow work pertain more to later stages of the swallow, such as the actual propulsion through the pharynx, while esophageal dilation addresses the esophagus itself, not the oral prep.