title: Direct observation of tongue positions in speech--a patient study.
abstract: Tongue position for four selected consonants, /s/, /k/, /l/, and /t/, was observed and photographed through an opening in the cheek of a patient. The cheek had been resected to remove a tumor. On comparison of the tongue positions with those described in the literature, it was found that the variations in tongue position were negligible. Although the patient had a large facial defect, speech clarity was also not affected. As reconstructive surgery was not immediately feasible, a cheek prosthesis was fabricated for the facial aspect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Dental College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bharadwaj
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002610:Cheek / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008447:Maxillofacial Prosthesis; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*