Abstract
Tongue movements while sucking were studied using ultrasonography and a sucking pressure device. The subjects were seven cleft lip and palate patients (four with the Hotz appliance, three without it) and one normal infant. For sonographic observation, the probe was placed submentally, and tongue movements were recorded in both the frontal and saggital plane. In saggital plane M cursor line ran through the top of the article nipple, about 1 cm forward from the top, or about 2 cm backward, and tongue blade motion was observed respectively. Analyzing of the tongue wave consisted of measurement of the depth and time lag of three sites of the tongue blade motion. The depth, difference of the highest and lowest position of the tongue blade per sucking cycle, was measured in the M mode. According to differences in peaks of the tongue motion curves recoded in the M mode and peaks in the sucking pressure curve, the time lag of the three sites of the tongue blade motion was calculated. Moreover, hyoid bone movements were observed by placing the probe submentally. Swallowing reflexes were therefore identified clearly. The sucking movement of seven cleft lip and palate infants varied. The sucking cycle was prolonged in five subjects. The movements of all of the sites were noticeable in six subjects. Just for one person, the tongue pitched simply with little time lag. Three of the subjects using the Hotz appliance were not able to elicit the sucking reflex when it was removed. Only one person was able to suck both with and without the plate, and he made better movement with it. Using the ultrasonography M cursor and the sucking pressure device, we succeeded in assessing tongue movements while sucking.
