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The Influence of Oropalatal Dimensions on the Measurement of Tongue Strength

Dysphagia volume 32, pages 759–766 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Tongue strength is routinely evaluated in clinical swallowing evaluations since lingual weakness is an established contributor to dysphagia. Tongue strength may be clinically quantified by the maximum isometric tongue pressure (MIP) generated by the tongue against the palate; however, wide ranges in normal performance remain to be fully explained. Although orthodontic theory has long suggested a relation between lingual function and oral cavity dimensions, little attention has been given to the potential influence of oral and palatal structure(s) on healthy variance in MIP generation. Therefore, anterior and posterior tongue strength measures and oropalatal dimensions were obtained across 147 healthy adults (aged 18–88 years). Age was confirmed as a significant, independent predictor explaining approximately 10.2% of the variance in anterior tongue strength, but not a significant predictor of posterior tongue strength. However, oropalatal dimensions predicted anterior tongue strength with over three times the predictive power of age alone (p < .001). Significant models for anterior tongue strength (R 2 = .457) and posterior tongue strength (R 2 = .283) included a combination of demographic predictors (i.e., age and/or gender) and oropalatal dimensions. Palatal width, estimated tongue volume, and gender were significant predictors of posterior tongue strength (p < .001). Therefore, oropalatal dimensions may warrant consideration when accurately differentiating between pathological lingual weakness and healthy individual difference.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Justine Rinehart, Margaret Way, Anne Delaney, Erica Murrell, Caiti Boyack, Carolyn Pellegrino, Amy Happ, Apryl Bailey, Nicole Tryon, and Grant Leacox who contributed to the success of this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 245 CAC, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, 50614, USA

    Laura L. Pitts & Carlin F. Hageman

  2. Northwestern University, 400 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Laura L. Pitts

  3. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, 355 E. Erie Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Laura L. Pitts

  4. Florida State University, 201 W. Bloxham, Warren Building, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-1200, USA

    Laura L. Pitts, Julie A. G. Stierwalt & Leonard L. LaPointe

  5. Mayo Clinic at Rochester, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Julie A. G. Stierwalt

Authors
  1. Laura L. Pitts
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  2. Julie A. G. Stierwalt
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  3. Carlin F. Hageman
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  4. Leonard L. LaPointe
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Correspondence to Laura L. Pitts.

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Research completed at the Florida State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

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Pitts, L.L., Stierwalt, J.A.G., Hageman, C.F. et al. The Influence of Oropalatal Dimensions on the Measurement of Tongue Strength. Dysphagia 32, 759–766 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-017-9820-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-017-9820-4

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