Measurement of palatolingual contact pressure and tongue force using a force-sensor-mounted palatal plate

In this paper, we report on a 15-cantilever-type, force-sensormounted palatal plate capable of high sensitivity and accurate measurements of the palatolingual contact pressure and pattern that occur during consonant phonation. This paper also describes measurements of tongue force based on the results of the palatolingual contact pressure measurements that the 15-cantilever-type, force-sensor-mounted palatal plate allowed us to take. Tongue force can be calculated via an algorithm of surface integration over the distribution of palatolingual pressure values in the palatal region. In order to verify the sensor's function, we simultaneously measured the weight of a tongue-like elastic test body by using an electronic scale and our force-sensor-mounted palatal plate. The palatolingual contact pressures and tongue forces of five adult male subjects were measured during Japanese phonation. The proposed system allows direct observation of the dynamic aspects of palatolingual contact pressure and tongue force during the phonation of consonants.