[Ultrasound study of disorders of coordination in tongue movement in swallowing]

Ultrasound imaging of tongue movements permits real-time observation of swallowing and articulation without risk for the patient. The ultrasound images of the tongue motions were recorded on video-tape and then analyzed frame by frame. We were able to detect regular phases of tongue motion during normal swallowing. Clear deviations from normal motion patterns were found in a patient with anarthria, despite absence of swallowing difficulties in every day life.