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Effects of lingual gestures on blood flow into the tongue: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Watkin Kenneth L.,
Gallagher Tanya M.,
Logemann Jeri A.,
Rademaker Alfred W.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.1051
Subject(s) - gesture , medicine , blood flow , tongue , ultrasound , ultrasonography , cardiology , radiology , pathology , computer science , artificial intelligence
Background Reduced blood flow has been hypothesized to be a major factor in the formation of postradiation fibrosis. This study examined Doppler ultrasonography as a technique to detect changes in blood flow into the tongue during selected lingual gestures, /t/ and /k/. Methods Six normal subjects, three young men (mean age, 26 years) and three older men (mean age, 66 years) were examined in an upright position using Doppler ultrasound imaging of the external carotid artery just below the lingual artery. Measurements were made with a standardized segmentation technique before and after three repetitions of four speech production gestures /t/ and /k/, each with natural and maximal force. Results Blood flow peak systole increased significantly after the speech gestures ( p < .001). Pooled before and after gesture values for older subjects were significantly lower than those for younger subjects ( p ≤ .05). Conclusions Ultrasonography is a clinically useful technique for measuring blood flow during a dynamic gesture and may be useful for measuring effects of tumor treatment and in a lingual exercise program. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 404–408, 2001.