Introducing the pressure-sensing palatograph--the next frontier in electropalatography.
OBJECTIVE
To extend the capabilities of current electropalatography (EPG) systems by developing a pressure-sensing EPG system. An initial trial of a prototype pressure-sensing palate will be presented.


METHODS
The processes involved in designing the pressure sensors are outlined, with Hall effect transistors being selected. These units are compact, offer high sensitivity and are inexpensive. An initial prototype acrylic palate was constructed with five embedded pressure sensors. Syllable repetitions were recorded from one adult female. MAIN OUTCOMES, RESULTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS: The pressure-sensing palate was capable of recording dynamic tongue-to-palate pressures, with minimal to no interference to speech detected perceptually. With a restricted number of sensors, problems were encountered in optimally positioning the sensors to detect the consonant lingual pressures. Further developments are planned for various aspects of the pressure-sensing system.


CONCLUSIONS
Although only in the prototype stage, the pressure-sensing palate represents the new generation of EPG. Comprehensive analysis of tongue-to-palate contacts, including pressure measures, is expected to enable more specific and effective therapeutic techniques to be developed for a variety of speech disorders.
Murdoch
Bruce E
BE
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. b.murdoch@uq.edu.au
Goozée
Justine V
JV
Veidt
Martin
M
Scott
Dion H
DH
Meyers
Ian A
IA
D000328:Adult; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010159:Palate / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology*