Cineradiographic Examination of Articulatory Movement of Pseudo-Tongue, Hyoid, and Mandible in Congenital Aglossia

Abstract

This research examined cineradiographic films (CRF) of articulatory movements in a person with congenital aglossia (PWCA) during speech production of four phrases. Pearson correlations and a multiple regression model investigated co-variation of independent variables, positions of mandible and hyoid; and pseudo-tongue-dependent variables, positions of mylohyoid and tongue base. Results suggest that backing/fronting of the mandible assisted the mylohyoid/tongue base in making mid-antero-posterior constrictions. Co-linearity findings suggest the best predictor of tongue base movement was mandible for back sounds. Hyoid movement was highly correlated with mandibular movement horizontally, but hyoid acted independently vertically and possibly with greater phonemic specialty in the PWCA. Findings suggest hyoid was a strong determinant of vertically dependent variable movement in all phrases. The extent of hyoid activity was a unique finding and one that may begin to explain relative intelligibility in this PWCA. Observed changes in vocal tract length may have influenced F2 transitional/vowel midpoint values.

Speech and Swallow Kinematics of a Person with Congenital Aglossia

“…Previous reports described perceptual examination of vowel and consonant production [2,3] followed by a two dimensional CRF investigation of articulatory movement of bony variables mandible and hyoid bone and the visible muscular variables of pseudo-tongue structures (base of tongue and mylohyoid) during production of four phrases [4]. These finding suggested that the hyoid bone appeared to act independently in vertical motion and was strongly active with vertical pseudo-tongue movement during phrase production.…”

Bilabial Substitution Patterns during Consonant Production in a Case of Congenital Aglossia

“…There were highly predictable correlations of muscles for deglutition and speech, which suggested that this speaker used the muscular actions developed for deglutition to enhance speech and resonance. The 2014a [17] EPG study noted bilateral lip electrode activation in 7 out of 8 trials of /t,d/ productions as well as other consonants. The 2015b [19] videofluorographic study suggested production of the lingua-alveolar stop consonants /t/ and /d/ may be possible through a substitution pattern of lower incisors, lower lip, and mylohyoid to constrict the anterior oral cavity for intelligible production.…”

“…Only 11 cases have been reported internationally [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] since it was first described systematically by De Jussieu in 1718 [12] whose original paper was investigated and described by Salles et al in 2016 [13]. McMicken and her co-authors [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] have reported extensively on research from cinefluorographic films and audio-visual (AV) recordings collected in 1986 on a 16-year-old female PwCA. This research included perception of vowel production [14], perception of consonant production [15], and cinefluorographic examination of articulation [16], in addition to current re-examination of the PwCA, now in her 40s, with electropalatography [17], videoflourography of articulatory movements of pseudo tongue, hyoid and mandible [18], and speech and swallowing kinematics [19].…”

“…McMicken and her co-authors [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] have reported extensively on research from cinefluorographic films and audio-visual (AV) recordings collected in 1986 on a 16-year-old female PwCA. This research included perception of vowel production [14], perception of consonant production [15], and cinefluorographic examination of articulation [16], in addition to current re-examination of the PwCA, now in her 40s, with electropalatography [17], videoflourography of articulatory movements of pseudo tongue, hyoid and mandible [18], and speech and swallowing kinematics [19]. It should be noted that the PwCA was a co-author in previous articles and is currently the subject of this paper.…”

“…The PwCA I was re-examined by McMicken et al [16][17][18][19] and articulatory movements for speech and swallowing were studied using electropalatography (EPG) and videofluorographic films. These results suggested PwCA I may present with the capacity to capitalize on a variety of actions during eating or swallowing to optimize the more refined movements of speech.…”