Ultrasound Evaluation of Tongue Movements in Speech and Swallowing

Overview

This study will assess the use of ultrasound-a test that uses sound waves to produce images-as a diagnostic tool for evaluating speech and swallowing. The following categories of individuals may be eligible for this study: 1) healthy volunteers between 20 and 85 years old with normal speech and hearing, 2) patients 6 to 85 years old with developmental neurological deficits in speech or swallowing, and 3) patients with tumors of the oral cavity, pharynx or larynx being treated at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Participants will undergo a 30-minute speech and oral motion evaluation, in which they imitate sounds, words and oral movements while a speech pathologist evaluates their lip, tongue and palate movements. They may also be asked to drink a small amount of water for examination of swallowing function. For the ultrasound examination, a 3/4-inch transducer (device for transmitting and receiving sound waves) is placed under the participant's chin. While the transducer is in place, the subject 1) repeats sounds and a series of syllables in several sequences, 2) swallows three times with and without a small amount of water, and 3) swallows 3 teaspoons of non-fat pudding. The ultrasound images are recorded on tape for later analysis.

Studies conducted using ultrasound imaging at the NIH, Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology, have demonstrated that ultrasound imaging can be used reliably to study speech and swallowing impairments in a variety of conditions and diseases. Since ultrasound is non-invasive with no reported bioeffects, it can be used repeatedly to follow the progression of a disease. Ultrasound imaging of the oral cavity during speech and swallowing allows easy visualization of the tongue/hyoid bone motion and transport of the bolus during swallowing and tongue surface configuration during speech. Images can be obtained in several planes for viewing muscular coordination and timing and specific measures can be obtained from digitized video images. Thus it has widespread clinical research implications for patients with disorders affecting the oral peripheral muscles, salivary gland flow and the central nervous system control of speech and swallowing. While ultrasound technology has been used extensively in Europe to evaluate tumors of the head and neck, its use in this country has been marginal. We plan to compare ultrasound evaluation of tumor staging, tumor volume, and tumor recurrence in patients with tumors of the larynx, oral cavity and hypopharynx. Currently, this is accomplished by CT or MRI scanning procedures. We plan to compare CT/MRI results with ultrasound to determine if this non-invasive technique can be utilized reliably for diagnosis and tracking of oropharyngeal tumors.