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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
06:59
In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
Published on: July 6, 2017
Maximal tongue strength in typically developing children and adolescents
1Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Washington State University Spokane, Spokane, WA, 99210, USA. nlpotter@wsu.edu
Dysphagia
|April 25, 2009
Summary
This study shows that children as young as 3 can reliably perform tongue strength tests using the Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI). Tongue strength increases with age, providing valuable data for pediatric speech and swallowing evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology
- Swallowing Disorders Research
- Biomechanics of Oral Function
Background:
- Assessing tongue function is vital for effective swallowing, particularly in children.
- Limited research exists on pediatric tongue strength due to reliability concerns and lack of normative data.
- Objective measures are needed to evaluate tongue strength in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reliability and feasibility of measuring tongue strength in children aged 3-16 using the Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI).
- To establish a comparative database of tongue strength in typically developing children.
- To examine the relationship between age and tongue strength in pediatric participants.
Main Methods:
- 150 typically developing children and adolescents (3-16 years) participated.
- Tongue strength was measured using the Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI) with an unconstrained mandible.
- Standardized testing protocols included rest periods between trials and blocks.
Main Results:
- Children aged 3 and older reliably tolerated the IOPI and provided consistent tongue strength measurements.
- Tongue strength demonstrated a significant increase with age across the studied pediatric range.
- Slight sex-based differences in tongue strength emerged in older adolescents (14 and 16 years).
Conclusions:
- Maximum pediatric tongue strength can be reliably assessed using commercially available equipment like the IOPI.
- This study provides a foundational comparative database for pediatric tongue strength.
- Findings support the clinical utility of objective tongue strength assessment in pediatric speech and swallowing evaluations.
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