Direct observation of tongue positions in speech--a patient study.
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.
Singh
V P
VP
Department of Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Dental College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Bharadwaj
G
G
Nair
K C
KC
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*