2011 Volume 60 Issue 4 Pages 337-340
To investigate the tongue movements of a 19-year-old male with lateral articulation, ultrasonography was used before and after speech therapy, and the improvement in tongue movements was evaluated. The tongue movements were observed in coronal and sagittal sections. The results were as follows:
1. In coronal section, before speech therapy, the middle part of the tongue moved upward, and only one side of the tongue edge moved downward during lateral articulation. After the therapy, when normal speech was acquired, the middle part of the tongue formed a groove, and the movements of the tongue edge were symmetrical.
2. In sagittal section, before the therapy, the tongue blade moved rapidly upward toward the palate. After the therapy, the body of the tongue formed a flat shape.
3. Observation by static palatography showed that the tongue contacted the center of the palate during lateral articulation. After the therapy, there was a space at the center of the oral cavity.
The study showed that the ultrasonic observation from coronal and sagittal sections was useful for identifying the tongue movements specific to lateral articulation, and objectively evaluating the improvement in tongue movements. Also, multidimensional observation of tongue movements was feasible by combining ultrasonography with static palatography.
