Which statement best describes the purpose of the effortful swallow?

• A. It increases force on neck muscles during swallow
• B. It increases effort in swallowing (hard swallow)
• C. It reduces pharyngeal constriction
• D. It causes nasal regurgitation

Answer: (B)

Effortful swallow is a technique used to increase the muscular effort during swallowing, with the goal of producing a stronger pharyngeal squeeze and greater hyolaryngeal elevation. This helps push the bolus more completely through the pharynx and improves clearance of residue, while also enhancing airway protection by elevating the larynx more robustly. That’s why the statement describing swallowing with extra effort (a hard swallow) best captures the purpose. It does not aim to isolate neck muscle force, it does not reduce pharyngeal constriction (it actually increases it), and it should not cause nasal regurgitation.