Articulation contact pressures scaled to the physiologic range of the tongue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the percentage of the maximum isometric lingual strength range at which lingual-alveolar consonants are produced (%P) by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) compared to people without the disease measured at study entry, and then 3 and 6 months later.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort comparison study over time.

METHODS

Ten people with ALS and nine without produced the consonants /t, d, s, z, l, n/ in real words within sentences as the articulatory contact pressure (ACP) between the tongue tip and palate was sensed by a miniature transducer. Maximum isometric tongue pressing values also were obtained to allow calculation of %P. Data were analyzed to compare PALS with bulbar symptoms, PALS with spinal-only symptoms, and people without ALS.

RESULTS

%P did not differ between any of the three participant groups at any of the three measurement times. Maximum isometric pressure did decrease significantly in both ALS groups when comparing baseline to 3- and 6-months later. Maximum pressures remained stable for the non-ALS group at the three measurement times.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that speech motor activity of the tongue in people with ALS may be scaled relative to their overall tongue strength, such that the %P does not change as the tongue gets progressively weaker.