[Tongue ultrasound and pressure measurement in infantile sucking. Initial results]

The sucking procedure was examined in 10 healthy, term infants and in one newborn with disturbed sucking actions suffering from recurrent aspiration pneumonia. We applied ultrasonography of the tongue and simultaneous intraoral pressure measurements in the examinations. Observations were made with a bottle feeding system (NUK). Sonography and intraoral measurements both gave reliable informations. Parallel recordings of tongue dorsum movements by pseudo-3-dimensional imaging and simultaneously obtained pressure curves show, that increasing suction is maintained by withdrawing the tongue dorso-cranially. Computer-aided evaluation of ultrasound images and pressure data demonstrate the possibility to distinguish between coordinated and uncoordinated sucking movements. Simultaneous use of both examination techniques can be helpful in diagnosis and documentation of disturbed sucking actions.