Ultrasound applicability in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology

Abstract

PURPOSE: To present recent studies that used the ultrasound in the fields of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, which evidence possibilities of the applicability of this technique in different subareas. RESEARCH STRATEGY: A bibliographic research was carried out in the PubMed database, using the keywords "ultrasonic," "speech," "phonetics," "Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences," "voice," "deglutition," and "myofunctional therapy," comprising some areas of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Sciences. The keywords "ultrasound," "ultrasonography," "swallow," "orofacial myofunctional therapy," and "orofacial myology" were also used in the search. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies in humans from the past 5 years were selected. In the preselection, duplicated studies, articles not fully available, and those that did not present direct relation between ultrasound and Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Sciences were discarded. DATA ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed descriptively and classified subareas of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Sciences. The following items were considered: purposes, participants, procedures, and results. RESULTS: We selected 12 articles for ultrasound versus speech/phonetics subarea, 5 for ultrasound versus voice, 1 for ultrasound versus muscles of mastication, and 10 for ultrasound versus swallow. Studies relating "ultrasound" and "Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Sciences" in the past 5 years were not found. CONCLUSION: Different studies on the use of ultrasound in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Sciences were found. Each of them, according to its purpose, confirms new possibilities of the use of this instrument in the several subareas, aiming at a more accurate diagnosis and new evaluative and therapeutic possibilities.

Evolução fonológica de crianças com desvio fonológico submetidas a diferentes abordagens terapêuticas

“…All the subjects presented in their phonetic inventory the nasal class, data which agrees with literature 14,15 . Also, none of the subjects presented problems with the affricates [tS] and [dZ].…”

Elaboração de um Protocolo de Avaliação Instrumental da Fala (PRAINF) baseado em critérios linguísticos e psicométricos

“…Considering the application of the protocol in several instrumental evaluations, including speech ultrasonography, we chose to analyze the phoneme in tonic syllable, since the amplitude of tongue movement in this context is greater and, therefore, it provides a better ultrasound image (24) . The non-occurrence of two equal consonants in the same word, one being the target consonant, serves to avoid co-articulation effects.…”

Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasonography for the Assessment of Laryngeal Function After Thyroidectomy: A Review

“…[3][4][5][6] It is considered to have an applicability index of over 90% 4 and does not expose the patient to radiation. 7,8 According to some studies, TLUSG can be used as an alternative to fiberoptic flexible laryngoscopy 9 and can provide real-time imaging to examine laryngeal function. 8,10 In this regard, TLUSG has become an alternative to investigate laryngeal sequelae in surgical cases involving the anterior cervical region, such as a thyroidectomy.…”