The Correlation of Tongue Position with Voice

Ahn, Cheol Min; Moon, Ko Jeong; Shin, Jung Guk; Lee, Gun Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The tongue acts as a swallowing moderator, articulator and resonance maker. The tongue may also affect voice production. Authors tried to determine the relationship between the tongue position and voice changes, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty normal subjects (male : female is 23: 27, Group A) between the ages of 20 and 30 years, and 40 subjects (male : female is 20: 28, Group B) with abnormal position of tongue (eg. ankyloglossia) between the ages of 20 and 40 years participated in this study. Subjects were asked about the history of hyperfunctional laryngeal disorders, such as, voice fatigue, frequent voice changes, odynophonia and globus symptoms. Afterwards, we made sure whether the tongue protruded over the lower lip, whether the tip had dimple shape when subject protruded the tongue, whether examiners grasped the tongue easily during laryngeal examination, and whether examiners could see the larynx easily during laryngeal examination or not. At last, concomitant laryngeal disorders were evaluated.
RESULTS
The symptoms of hyperfunctional laryngeal disorders were more frequent in the group B. Abnormal tongue movements and functional laryngeal disorders were also more frequent in the group B.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that limited tongue movements may affect voice changes.