Ultrasound Evaluation of Tongue Movements in Speech and Swallowing

Completed

Conditions studied: Otorhinolaryngologic Disease, Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasm, Pharyngeal Neoplasm, Polymyositis, Speech Disorder

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00001167

Run by

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

People needed

570

Starts

1979-08-01

Expected to finish

2004-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2008-03-04

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Normal volunteers:
• Normal volunteers ages 21 to 85 may be asked to participate in a study of speech and swallowing utilizing a traditional clinical examination of oral-motor performance. If the subjects are without deficits in dental occlusion, speech articulation, tongue and lip strength, tongue and lip mobility, palatal function and oral sensation they will be asked to participate in an ultrasonic evaluation of tongue/hyoid interaction during swallowing and speech.
• Children will be included if they are referred with a medical condition that affects the oral pharyngeal phase of swallowing, voice production or laryngeal function and the investigator needs to evaluate functional performance and safety for oral feeding.
• Neurological Group:
• Subjects aged 6 to 85 with diagnosed developmental, neuromotor, systemic, genetic, neurologic, structural and post surgical dysfunction who have deficits in speech (dysarthria) and/or swallow (dysphagia) may be asked to participate in this study of ultrasonic imaging. Aging patients with and without dementia may also be studied. Patients with Post Polio Syndrome, Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, Toricollis, Cerebellar Degeneration, Parkinson's disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, ALS, Cystinosis, are among the conditions of interest. Subjects with complaints of oral dryness, and patients who have undergone mandibular and oral surgery may also be studied during swallowing.
• Oropharyngeal/Laryngeal Tumors:
• Patients will be seen who are enrolled in NCI and NIDCD protocols for head and neck tumors.

You may not qualify if…

• Normal Subjects:
• Hearing impairment reported (above 40 db, bilaterally)
• Dentures
• Oral Prosthesis
• Palatal surgery or other restorative dental surgery
• Radial neck dissection, glossectomy
• Tumor or masses in neck or tongue
• Cerebral vascular attack
• Stuttering
• Non-English speaker
• Childhood articulation impairment

Where it is running

• Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center (CC) — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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