Documentation of tongue movement during swallowing has been restricted to the recording of fluorographic or ultrasound images on cine- or videofilm. The new approach of temporal sonographic imaging with reconstruction of one single image for the total act of swallowing presents a direct approach to obtaining substantial information concerning tongue movements and motility. The applicability of this reconstructed image for the documentation, interpretation, and comparison of tongue movements is demonstrated using examples of normal and pathologic swallowing.

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to analyze functional positions of the tongue and soft palate in 10 patients and 10 healthy volunteers. The patients had velopharyngeal insufficiency and/or dysfunction of the tongue. With snapshot FLASH (fast low-angle shot) sequences (data acquisition time, less than 1 second), malpositions of the articulatory apparatus were imaged and recorded for follow-up documentation.

For the assessment of voice performance, three-dimensional (3D) phonetograms were constructed using mean values of vocal pitch, vocal intensity, and phonation time. They were built up for groups of professional and non-professional male and female speakers. The 3D phonetograms of the professional and non-professional groups were projected into one another for the female as well as for the male speakers to facilitate comparison of the professional and non-professional groups. In addition, pitch-related cross-sections of the 3D phonetograms were created. These cross-sections plotted as sequences are useful to evaluate changes in vocal dynamics and phonation time in relation to the course of vocal pitch. In this contribution, it could be demonstrated that the 3D phonetograms of the non-professional groups were completely enclosed by those of the professional groups who developed a greater vocal capacity. Furthermore, the cross-section sequences of the professional groups were obviously longer and broader than those of the non-professional groups. Details of group-specific differences with respect to the examined voice parameters are discussed.

The use of MRI for demonstrating the articulators during phonation by means of a snapshot-FLASH technique has been studied in ten healthy subjects. Unlike ultrasound, which can only demonstrate movement of the tongue during articulation, MRI with snapshot-flash technique provides significant information on all articulators during phonation.

The oro-pharyngeal-laryngeal resonating spaces were studied in 12 singers at varying stages of their training by means of medio-sagittal MRI images, and the results were compared. The singers were requested to sing /a/ /u/ and /i/ at various pitches and with increasing loudness. The total oro-pharyngo-laryngeal areas were integrated by means of the MRI sections. The relationship between the oro-pharyngeal and pharyngo-laryngeal areas was determined, as well as their ratio to total area. With increasing volume there was increase in the area of the oro-pharyngeal component with no change in the pharyngo-laryngeal component. The relationship of the partial areas depends on the extent of training of the singer.