[Electromagnetic articulography (EMA) studies on orofacial movement functions]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Speech Science
• Dental Research

Context:

• Objective methods are needed to assess orofacial motor functions impacting dentoalveolar system development.
• Electromagnetic Articulography (EMA) is an innovative device utilizing an inductive measuring principle.
• Miniature receiver coils on the tongue or velum enable midsagittal plane movement recording.

Purpose:

• To demonstrate the application of EMA in examining tongue and velum motor activity during speech and swallowing.
• To report initial findings on sagittal tongue movement during swallowing in healthy individuals.
• To showcase EMA's utility in studies of tongue dysfunction, orofacial motor coordination, and velopharyngeal closure.

Summary:

• EMA records orofacial structure movements in the midsagittal plane using miniature coils.
• Applications include analyzing tongue and velum activity in speech and deglutition.
• Initial results on tongue movement during swallowing are presented, with examples from ongoing research.

Impact:

• EMA provides a valuable tool for dental research and functional treatment of cleft palate (CLP) patients.
• It enhances the objective assessment of orofacial motor functions.
• Potential for advancing understanding of speech, swallowing, and related disorders.