title: [Palatographic procedures for diagnosis and therapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visual diagnosis of the tongue's articulatory movements in many speech sounds is hindered by the inaccessibility of the oral cavity during speech. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the actual tongue position in relation to other structures involved. Such an assessment is useful for fundamental research as well as medical diagnoses, i.e. evaluation of corresponding resonating cavities. Palatographic imaging methods promise to deliver insight into articulatory sequences and should consequently expose underlying pathological mechanisms, which potentially makes it a useful tool for the diagnosis of speech. This article aims to review the different palatographic procedures and evaluate their eligibility as a diagnostic tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  A selective literature search (NHS EED, HTA, DARE, Clinical Trials, Medline-PubMed, DARE, HTA Cochrane Reviews) has been carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 42 descriptive studies were found, but not a single prospective randomised study regarding the diagnostic or therapeutic value of palatographic imaging methods was among these results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Palatographic procedures provide insight into non-visible articulatory movements. It has not been evaluated sufficiently, however, whether the individual examination procedures impair the articulatory movement in such a way that no relevant clinical assessment can be carried out. Studies with a high level of evidence concerning the sensitivity and specificity of palatography as a diagnostic instrument, as well as studies regarding the effectiveness and efficiency as a therapeutic approach are needed.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ptok
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D014059:Tongue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*