Abstract
The purpose of this study was to observe posterior tongue movement with ultrasound using the mid-tongue as the standard.
As for the method of observation, the combined use of ultrasound and X-ray TV or straingauge pressure transducer were employed.
The present study was designed to compare the reproducibility of the results obtained using ultrasound and other equipment for mid-tongue and posterior tongue observations, to establish whether differences exist in the duration of use of ultrasound and other equipment for mid-tongue and posterior tongue observations, and to determine the reliability of ultrasound analysis of tongue activity during swallowing. The results obtained are as follows.
1. Reproducibility was found to be the same when a comparison was made of the results obtained by observation of the duration of the tongue movement using ultrasound with X-ray at the midtongue and posterior tongue. However, reproducibility was not found to be the same between ultrasound and the strain-gauge pressure transducer when the posterior tongue contacts the palate.
2. There was a difference in duration of use between ultrasound and X-ray TV at the mid-tongue. However, this difference was not observed at the posterior tongue. There were differences in duration of use between ultrasound and the strain-gauge pressure transducer at the mid-tongue and posterior tongue.
3. There was a difference in duration of use by subject from the start of the tongue movement to tongue contact with the palate. There was a difference in duration of use by scan from the start of the tongue movement to the end of the tongue movement.
