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Tongue Measures in Individuals With Normal and Impaired Swallowing

Scott R. Youmans
Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY

Contact author: Julie A. G. Stierwalt, 325 Regional Rehab Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306. E-mail: julie.stierwalt{at}comm.fsu.edu.

Purpose: This investigation sought to add to the extant literature on measures of normal tongue function, to provide information on measures of tongue function in a group of individuals with oral phase dysphagia, and to provide a comparison of these 2 groups matched for age and gender.

Method: The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument was utilized to measure tongue function (strength and endurance) in a group of individuals with normal (N = 200) and impaired (N = 50) swallowing. The peak measure of 3 encouraged trials was recorded as participants' strength, and 50% of their peak was sustained as long as possible for endurance.

Results: Results for the control group supported previous investigations wherein greater tongue strength was found in males than in females and in the youngest versus oldest groups. The experimental group demonstrated a similar trend in strength for gender. When matched for age and gender, the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower strength. Significant differences were not revealed on measures of tongue endurance.

Conclusions: We were able to extend the normative database on tongue function and document reduced tongue strength in a group of individuals with dysphagia. The findings provide evidence that in this group, tongue weakness coincided with signs of dysphagia, adding justification for tongue-strengthening protocols.

Key Words: tongue function, tongue strength and endurance, dysphagia

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