Lingual force detection system

The tongue is an organ of great significance in the processes of both swallowing and speech. Any disorder of the tongue's function (dysphagia, lateral sclerosis), with regard especially to the forces it produces, can drastically impair an individual by leaving them unable to swallow or talk. Up to this point, few systems have been created to quantitatively measure tongue force. Here we describe development of a new device that measures and outputs tongue force and endurance at six strategically positioned points in the mouth. Two mouth guards were fitted with six (three per guard) thin, highly sensitive sensors that independently output tongue force at each location. To ensure proper sensor readings, that is, reliable contact between the tongue and the sensor, each sensor was placed between a hard backing plate of stainless steel and a pliable puck constructed from silicone rubber. Forces were output to a computer using National Instruments' ELVIS system and a novel user friendly interface created using NI's LabVIEW. The proposed system can be utilized as a first step in diagnosis and treatment planning for speech rehabilitation and therapy. In future studies, collected data will be compared with control data (obtained previously from healthy volunteers) to diagnose potential tongue weakness and pinpoint its location in the mouth (whether unilateral or diffuse).