Intraoral Pressure Research Articles

The effect of speaking rate on velopharyngeal function in healthy speakers

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of speaking rate variation on aerodynamic and acoustic measures of velopharyngeal (VP) function. Twenty-seven healthy adult speakers (14 males, 13 females) participated in the study. The modified pressure-flow method was used to collect aerodynamic data of /m/ and /p/ segments in the word ‘hamper’ and the utterances ‘Mama made some lemon jam’ (MMJ) and ‘Buy Bobby a puppy’ (BBP). SPL was collected simultaneously with aerodynamic data for all utterances. A Nasometer was used to obtain nasalance scores and nasalance distance for MMJ and BBP. Sentences were produced at normal, fast, slow, and slowest speaking rates. The results showed that nasal airflow and VP orifice area were unaffected by speaking rate variations in males and females, whereas intra-oral pressure appeared to decrease as speaking rate slowed for both speaker groups. However, this effect was removed by statistically controlling SPL. Nasalance and nasalance distance (MMJ – BBP) did not change with speaking rate variation. There was a statistical difference between nasalance scores produced by male and female speakers. The results suggested that aerodynamic and acoustic measures of velopharyngeal function are not affected by variation in speaking rate in healthy males and females.

The Phonetic Cause of Sound Change from Voiceless Stops to Implosives

Currently, no relevant study provides a proper phonetic explanation regarding the origin of implosives in Chinese dialects. The present study proposes that the active lowering of the larynx is used as a strategy to initiate voicing when pronouncing the fortis voiceless stop, which possibly results in the sound change from fortis voiceless stops to implosives. This phenomenon is observed in the Chaozhou dialect, in which a phonetic variant of the voiceless stop occurs with pre-voicing, and the transient drop of the intra-oral pressure (Po) occurs before oral release. It was found that the use of the ingressive glottalic airstream occurs more often when the voiceless stops are pronounced with either extremely long oral closure or with very high intra-oral pressure.

Intra-oral compartment pressures: a biofunctional model and experimental measurements under different conditions of posture.

Oral posture is considered to have a major influence on the development and reoccurrence of malocclusion. A biofunctional model was tested with the null hypotheses that (1) there are no significant differences between pressures during different oral functions and (2) between pressure measurements in different oral compartments in order to substantiate various postural conditions at rest by intra-oral pressure dynamics. Atmospheric pressure monitoring was simultaneously carried out with a digital manometer in the vestibular inter-occlusal space (IOS) and at the palatal vault (sub-palatal space, SPS). Twenty subjects with normal occlusion were evaluated during the open-mouth condition (OC), gently closed lips (semi-open compartment condition, SC), with closed compartments after the generation of a negative pressure (CCN) and swallowing (SW). Pressure curve characteristics were compared between the different measurement phases (OC, SC, CCN, SW) as well as between the two compartments (IOS, SPS) using analysis of variance and Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests adopting a significance level of α = 0.05. Both null hypotheses were rejected. Average pressures (IOS, SPS) in the experimental phases were 0.0, −0.08 (OC); −0.16, −1.0 (SC); −48.79, −81.86 (CCN); and −29.25, −62.51 (SW) mbar. CCN plateau and peak characteristics significantly differed between the two compartments SPS and IOS. These results indicate the formation of two different intra-oral functional anatomical compartments which provide a deeper understanding of orofacial biofunctions and explain previous observations of negative intra-oral pressures at rest.

The Phonetic Cause of Sound Change from Voiceless Stops to Implosives

Currently, no relevant study provides a proper phonetic explanation regarding the origin of implosives in Chinese dialects. The present study proposes that the active lowering of the larynx is used as a strategy to initiate voicing when pronouncing the fortis voiceless stop1, which possibly results in the sound change from fortis voiceless stops to implosives. This phenomenon is observed in the Chaozhou dialect, in which a phonetic variant of the voiceless stop occurs with pre-voicing, and the transient drop of the intra-oral pressure (Po) occurs before oral release. It was found that the use of the ingressive glottalic airstream occurs more often when the voiceless stops are pronounced with either extremely long oral closure or with very high intra-oral pressure.

How intraoral pressure shapes the voicing contrast in American English and German

This study examines intraoral pressure for English and German stops in bilabial and alveolar place of articulation. Our subjects are two speakers of American English and three speakers of German. VOICING is the main phonological contrast under evaluation in both word initial and word final position. For initial stops, a few of the pressure characteristics showed differences between English and German, but on the whole the results point to similar production strategies at both places of articulation in the two different languages. Analysis of the pressure trajectory differences between VOICING categories in initial position raises questions about articulatory differences. In the initial closing gesture, time from start of gesture to closure is roughly equivalent for both categories, but the pressure change is significantly smaller on average for VOICED stops. Final stops, however, present a more complicated picture. German final stops are neutralized to a presumed VOICELESS phonological state. English final /p/ is broadly similar to German /p/, but English /t/ often shows no pressure increase at all which is at odds with the conventional account of phonation termination via pressure increase and loss of pressure differential. The results raise the question of whether the German final stops should be considered VOICELESS or some intermediate form, at least as compared to English final stops.

Caracterização da fala de indivíduos submetidos à palatoplastia primária

OBJETIVOS: Descrever as características de fala de indivíduos submetidos à palatoplastia primária; relacioná-las com tipo de fissura, técnica cirúrgica e idade na ocasião da cirurgia; e descrever as condutas fonoaudiológicas após a cirurgia. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 167 casos, de ambos os gêneros, com fissura labiopalatina, submetidos à palatoplastia primária. Foram coletadas informações relativas ao tipo de fissura, idade na palatoplastia, técnica cirúrgica, e as análises subjetivas sobre as características da fala, realizadas por fonoaudiólogas. RESULTADOS: Na avaliação perceptiva da fala após a cirurgia, encontrou-se inteligibilidade de fala alterada (46%), ressonância hipernasal (33%), articulações compensatórias (26%), emissão de ar nasal (14%), mímica facial (11%) e fraca pressão aérea intra-oral (8%). Na associação entre a ressonância e as articulações compensatórias com tipo de fissura, técnica cirúrgica e faixa etária, não houve diferença significativa. A conduta mais frequentemente tomada foi a de terapia fonoaudiológica (38%), para correção das articulações compensatórias e/ou outras alterações. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos indivíduos apresentou ressonância equilibrada ou hipernasalidade aceitável e ausência de articulações compensatória, independente do tipo de fissura, da técnica cirúrgica e da faixa etária, embora não tenha ocorrido diferença significativa. Dentre as condutas adotadas após a primeira avaliação pós-palatoplastia primária, a terapia fonoaudiológica foi a mais frequente.

Pneumoparotitis or pneumoparotid: a differential diagnosis to consider

Childhood parotid swelling has a number of differential diagnosis mostly of inflammatory origin. Pneumoparotitis is an uncommon cause of parotid inflammation. It is caused by an excessive increase of intraoral pressure and secondary passage of air into the Stensen or Stenon duct and its glandular branches. Diagnostic clues can usually be obtained by a directed anamnesis. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography are essential diagnostic tools for this condition that has a benign course with spontaneous resolution in most cases. We present four cases of pneumoparotitis diagnosed by US in children 5 to 13 years of age. One of the cases occurred after the child chewed gum and made bubbles for a prolonged time-period and the other three after inflating baloons, making bubbles inside a pool and after playing the flute. All cases resolved spontaneously after two days. We suggest to consider pneumoparotitis in the differential diagnosis of parotid swelling in children.

Neumoparotiditis o neumoparótida en el niño: Un diagnóstico diferencial a considerar

Childhood parotid swelling has a number of differential diagnosis mostly of inflammatory origin. Pneumoparotitis is an uncommon cause of parotid inflammation. It is caused by an excessive increase of intraoral pressure and secondary passage of air into the Stensen or Stenon duct and its glandular branches. Diagnostic clues can usually be obtained by a directed anamnesis. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography are essential diagnostic tools for this condition that has a benign course with spontaneous resolution in most cases. We present four cases of pneumoparotitis diagnosed by US in children 5 to 13 years of age. One of the cases occurred after the child chewed gum and made bubbles for a prolonged time-period and the other three after inflating baloons, making bubbles inside a pool and after playing the flute. All cases resolved spontaneously after two days. We suggest to consider pneumoparotitis in the differential diagnosis of parotid swelling in children.

Simultaneous measures of electropalatography and intraoral pressure in selected voiceless lingual consonants and consonant sequences of German

This work assessed relationships among intraoral pressure (IOP), electropalatographic (EPG) measures, and consonant sequence duration, in the following obstruents, clusters, and affricates of German: /t/, /sh/, /sht/, and /tsh/. The data showed significant correlations between IOP and percentage of articulatory contact (PC) for all speakers, whereas duration and place of articulation (measured by the EPG center of gravity) contributed less to IOP changes. Speakers differed in the strength of this relationship, possibly reflecting differences in vocal tract morphology or degree of laryngeal abduction. Single-point EPG and IOP measures in fricatives showed consistent correspondences across consonantal contexts, but the relationships for the stops were more complex and reflected positional effects. Temporal compression was observed for both members of the cluster, but only the fricative portion of the affricate. Conversely, coarticulation was observed for both the stop and fricative portion of the affricate, but only for the stop portion of the cluster, possibly reflecting biomechanical constraints. No clear differences were observed in coarticulatory resistance for stops and fricatives. These data contribute to a limited literature on articulatory-aerodynamic relationships in voiceless consonants and consonant sequences, and will provide a baseline for considering longer combinations of obstruents.

Contribution de la mesure de la pression intra-orale pour la compréhension des troubles de la coordination pneumophonique dans la dysarthrie parkinsonienne

Parkinsonian dysarthria can alter oral communication of the patients in the long-term. Subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation represents an interesting therapeutic option, although it does not seem to improve axial signs, of which dysarthric speech. The objective of our study was to contribute to the evaluation of STN stimulation effects on speech impairment and in particular on pneumophonic coordination: this latter parameter can be assessed indirectly by evaluating the temporal progression of the intraoral pressure (IOP) during the expiratory phase; thus, IOP represents the transient expression of subglottal pressure (SGP). Using a dedicated system (EVA2), 20 parkinsonian patients were recorded in ON and OFF STN stimulation conditions in order to evaluate IOP on three measurement points (2nd, 4th and 6th consonants P) during realization of the sentence "Papa ne m'a pas parlé de beau-papa" ("Daddy did not speak to me about daddy-in-law") which corresponds to a breath group. Eleven control subjects were recorded in parallel in order to define reference measurements. STN stimulation improved significantly IOP at the level of the initial measurement points (2nd P and 4th P), with an effect of convergence at the level of the third point (6th P) where the difference between OFF and ON STIM conditions was not significant any more. In addition, the performance of the patients ON STIM remained much lower than that of the control subjects. Our results raise the significant concept that IOP measurement can be regarded as a relevant indicator for dysarthria in Parkinson's disease. They also show that the improvement of pneumophonic coordination by STN stimulation is restricted to the initial period of the expiratory phase, confirming again the mitigated and controversial effect of STN stimulation on axial signs.

An impedance-based inverse filtering scheme with glottal coupling.

Source-filter interactions in voice production arise from considering finite glottal impedances that are comparable with that of the vocal tract and/or the subglottal system. Besides the changes in the source behavior, finite glottal impedances also allow for acoustic coupling between the subglottal and supraglottal tracts. Vowel dependence on the subglottal acoustic pressure is evident in recordings of skin acceleration overlying the suprasternal notch. To obtain estimates of other physiologic signals from skin acceleration, an impedance-based inverse filtering scheme that considers acoustic coupling is proposed. The scheme is based on an electrical analog model of a dipole source and assembles multiple approaches to estimate the system impedances. An experimental platform considers simultaneous measurements of skin acceleration, flexible high-speed videoendoscopy, oral volume velocity, intraoral pressure, electroglottography, and radiated acoustic pressure. Recordings of sustained vowels, co-articulated gestures, and pitch glides provide a comprehensive data set to study tract coupling and source-filter interactions. Preliminary results provide insights into the interrelation among the measured signals and illustrate the tissue instabilities of the vocal folds during some of the gestures. Further evaluation in cases of vocal fold pathology is also planned, where source-filter interactions are expected to be even more pronounced.

Nasoendoscopy of velopharynx before and during diagnostic therapy.

Nasoendoscopy is an important tool for assessing velopharyngeal function. The purpose of this study was to analyze velar and pharyngeal wall movement and velopharyngeal gap during nasoendoscopic evaluation of the velopharynx before and during diagnostic therapy. Nasoendoscopic recordings of 10 children with operated cleft lip and palate were analyzed according to the International Working Group Guidelines. Ratings of movement of velum and pharyngeal walls, and size, location and shape of gaps were analyzed by 3 speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Imaging was obtained during repetitions of the syllable/pa/during a single nasoendoscopic evaluation: (a) before diagnostic therapy, and (b) after the children were instructed to impound and increase intraoral air pressure (diagnostic therapy). Once the patients impounded and directed air pressure orally, the displacement of the velum, right, left and posterior pharyngeal walls increased 40, 70, 80, and 10%, respectively. Statistical significance for displacement was found only for right and left lateral pharyngeal walls. Reduction in gap size was observed for 30% of the patients and other 40% of the gaps disappeared. Changes in gap size were found to be statistically significant between the two conditions. In nasoendoscopic assessment, the full potential of velopharyngeal displacement may not be completely elicited when the patient is asked only to repeat a speech stimulus. Optimization of information can be done with the use of diagnostic therapy's strategies to manipulate VP function. Assuring the participation of the SLP to conduct diagnostic therapy is essential for management of velopharyngeal dysfunction.

The relation between articulatory and aerodynamic properties of single /t/, /S/ and their combination in /tS/ and /St/

Intraoral pressure changes during speech production are a result of different factors, such as articulatory movements (place and manner of articulation), subglottal pressure, and laryngeal‐oral coordination. This study attempts to provide a better understanding of the relation between aerodynamics and articulation in single voiceless consonants and their combinations. We gathered electropalatographic data simultaneously with intraoral pressure data for 9 native speakers of German. During voiceless aspirated stop production intraoral pressure equalizes with subglottal pressure since an oral closure is formed and the glottis is open. During voiceless fricative production intraoral pressure is lower than in stop production since the air can escape through the oral constriction. In /t, S, St/ the intraoral pressure changes are highly correlated with the articulatory behaviour. However, the affricate /tS/ shows an unusual relationship with aerodynamics and articulation. Although an oral closure is formed, pressure rises at a later point and reaches its peak during the fricative. We interpret these findings with respect to a special laryngeal ‐ oral coordination in affricates as reported in Hoole et al. (2003) who found a relatively late glottal opening during the stop portion of the affricate.

Voicing offsets and onsets in relation to intraoral pressure values in lingual obstruents of German

Phonation requires that tracheal pressure remain higher than intraoral pressure (Pio). In obstruent consonants, a major constriction in the upper vocal tract yields an increase in Pio, inhibiting phonation. The degree of Pio increase in consonants varies as a function of laryngeal and supraglottal apertures. Voiceless stops involve a rapid buildup and discharge of Pio, whereas fricatives involve more gradual changes in Pio. This work quantifies phonation offsets and onsets in German obstruents in relation to the Pio at these times. Pio signals were recorded via a pressure transducer affixed to the posterior end of an EPG palate while 9 speakers of standard German produced intervocalic voiceless consonant sequences (stops, fricatives, affricates, and clusters). Past theoretical work suggests that phonation offsets and onsets will show a hysteresis effect, with onsets requiring higher driving pressures than offsets. Of particular interest here is whether the extent of hysteresis differs among stops, fricatives, and obstruent sequences. Data on intraoral pressure change will also be compared with EPG data to explore how supraglottal constrictions affect Pio, and thus, phonation.

Glottal‐opening and airflow pattern during production of voiceless fricatives: a new non‐invasive instrumentation

In the production of voiceless fricatives, the airflow passing through the vocal tract is controlled by reciprocal open‐close patterns of the glottal and oral constriction. In order to observe such coordinated patterns, the authors have developed a combined method using a non‐invasive (external‐lighting and sensing) photoglottographic (ePGG) technique and a pressure‐difference airflow mask. The former technique has the advantage of no restriction of phonetic environments (improvement from the standard PGG) and can be further combined with instrumentation of intraoral air pressure and/or of articulatory movements. Our PGG‐airflow data are examined to address a question: It has been known that the glottis opens always wider for word‐initial fricatives than for word‐medial ones despite no obvious difference in acoustic and physiological requirements. It will be discussed whether the degrees of glottal opening during a fricative co‐vary with other aerodynamic and articulatory controls in CVCV utterances with V = nonclose vowels.

Physical modelling of Vowel-Stop-Vowel sequences

The physical phenomena involved in the production of vowel sounds are now well described and several effective physical models have been developed. On the contrary, only a few studies concern the physical aspects of the production of consonant sounds (fricatives, stops...) or the production of vowel-consonant-vowel sequences. Indeed, more complex acoustical and aerodynamical mechanisms should be considered (generation of aeroacoustical sources, dynamical description...). In this contribution, we focus on the production of vowel-stop-vowel sequences. A stop sound is produced after a complete occlusion of the vocal tract. In an intervocalic context, the closure entails an increase of the intraoral pressure, which results in the cessation of the vocal folds vibration. The opening is quickly followed by the generation of an aeroacoustical source, and entails a decrease of the intraoral pressure, which results in the resumption of the vocal folds motion. A physical model able to describe these aerodynamical observations and to predict the evolution of the intraoral pressure during the closure gesture is first detailed. Different interesting results are discussed (influence of the closure time, influence of the closure position, coordination of the different sources...). And a confrontation between theoretical results and experimental data is presented.

Computer simulations of intraoral pressure patterns during voiced stop consonant production

Several past studies have used laryngeal and/or upper vocal tract models to explore aerodynamic control during production of obstruent consonants, yet many aspects of such control remain unclear. Of particular interest in this work is how varying laryngeal and vocal tract dimensions such as occur among men, women, and children influence phonatory behavior and the time course of intraoral pressure (Pio) increase during voiced stop consonant production. To maintain phonation during a voiced stop closure, Pio must remain below the subglottal pressure. Physiological and modeling studies indicate that adult speakers actively increase supraglottal volumes during voiced stops, which slows the rate of Pio increase. Speakers with smaller vocal tracts may either be less successful in slowing the rate of Pio buildup, or else may perform more extreme volumetric changes to achieve similar end results. The current study uses data recently collected on voicing and Pio during stop production in men, women, and children. ...

Changes in Horizontal Jaw Position and Intraoral Pressure

To determine the effect of an imbalance in buccolingual pressure that may be involved in molar dental compensation in the mandible and asymmetry of the dental arch in subjects with facial asymmetry. We performed simultaneous measurement of the buccolingual pressure on the mandibular right first molar when subjects without facial asymmetry experimentally shifted the mandible laterally. Buccolingual pressures in the rest position (RP), right-shifted position (RS), and left-shifted position (LS) were compared. Moreover, T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were obtained in RP, RS, and LS. Tongue pressure tended to decrease in the order LS > RP > RS, while cheek pressure tended to increase in the order LS < RP < RS. The tongue/cheek pressure ratio tended to decrease in the order LS > RP > RS. There were significant positive (in RS) and negative (in LS) correlations between displacement of the tongue and tongue pressure. This imbalance in buccolingual pressures in the laterally-shifted mandibular position may partly explain molar dental compensation in the mandible and asymmetry of the dental arch in subjects with facial asymmetry.

Intrinsic factors of cyclical motion in speech articulators: Reappraising postulates of serial-ordering in motor-control theories

This study examines cyclical behavior in speech articulators and assumptions of serial activation of closing and opening motions in motor-control theories. EMG data are presented suggesting that, in speech, lip and jaw abductors may not be active during release motions. Opening movements in close–open cycles may thus reflect spring-like behavior owing to muscle elasticity. To evaluate this claim, bilabial compression and intra-oral pressure are used as indices of the elastic force of contractions. Force applied in compressing a spring leads to an opposing elastic force where range and speed of displacement are proportional to system constants. If release kinematics reflect spring-like effects, then bilabial compression and/or oral pressure would relate to the velocity and range of opening. Observations were performed on the lip and jaw motions of three subjects who produced papapa… and bababa… at increasing intensities so as to emphasize changes in compression and pressure. The results show, especially for pressure, strong correlations with the speed and range of openings. It is concluded that viewing close–open cycles in an articulator as commanded by serial equilibrium-points or separate targets in a score may not take into account intrinsic factors of passive elasticity acting in concert with active neural control.

Stop consonant voicing and intraoral pressure contours in women and children

Previous authors have established that stop consonant voicing is more limited in young children than adults, and have ascribed this to immature vocal-tract pressure management. Physical development relevant to speech aerodynamics continues into adolescence, suggesting that consonant voicing development may also persist into the school-age years. This study explored the relationship between stop consonant voicing and intraoral pressure contours in women, 5 year olds, and 10 year olds. Productions of intervocalic /p b/ were recorded from eight speakers at each age. Measures were made of stop consonant voicing and delta, a measure designed to characterize the time course of intraoral pressure increase in stops, following Muller and Brown [Speech and Language: Advances in Basic Research and Practice, edited by N. Lass (Academic, Madison, 1980), Vol. 4, pp. 318-389]. Age effects for stop consonant voicing and delta were not statistically significant, but correlations between delta and stop voicing were less often significant and sometimes reversed in the children, providing some evidence of immature aerodynamic control. The current data, as well as those of Muller and Brown, also show that the delta measure may yield some paradoxical values, indicating that more work is needed on methods of assessing time-varying characteristics of intraoral pressure.