Protocol for Restricting Head Movement when Recording Ultrasound Images of Speech
Citation
McLeod, S. & Wrench, A. (2008) Protocol for Restricting Head Movement when Recording Ultrasound Images of Speech, Asia Pacific Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing, vol. 11, , pp. 23-29,
Abstract
Ultrasound has been used as a diagnostic and intervention tool for speechlanguage
pathology in order to examine tongue function during speech
because it is readily accessible and non-invasive. Mid-sagittal or coronal dynamic
two-dimensional images of tongue position and movement can be
obtained as there are particularly strong ultrasound wave reflections from
boundaries between tissue and air. Despite its potential usefulness as a
technique, there have been limited research applications due to difficulty
stabilizing the ultrasound transducer. The current research evaluates a specially
designed helmet fitted with a microconvex endocavity ultrasound
transducer. To verify tongue/palate contact and aid in establishing the validity
and reliability of data, a female adult simultaneously wore an electropalatographic
palate during ultrasound and acoustic data collection. Palate
traces were verified by the activation of all electrodes on the EPG palate
and the absence of sound on the waveform and spectrograph. Data indicated
that the palate trace had limited movement over 1 hour of recording.