Reproducibility of tongue pressure measurements using an experimental device.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reproducibility of tongue pressure measurements using a low-cost experimental device in adult individuals.

METHODS

Ten adult volunteers of both sexes participated in the study. Tongue pressure was assessed during four distinct movements (elevation, right lateralization, left lateralization, and protrusion), with three repetitions per movement, using an experimental device. Assessments were conducted over a three-week period: the first week was dedicated to familiarization, and the subsequent two weeks to tongue pressure measurements. Reliability was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient, the standard error of measurement, and the minimal detectable difference. Agreement between assessments was verified using Bland-Altman analysis.

RESULTS

The reliability of tongue pressure measurements was excellent for elevation (0.900), right lateralization (0.960), and protrusion (0.971) movements, and good for left lateralization (0.887), as demonstrated by the intraclass correlation coefficient values. The lowest standard error of measurement and minimal detectable difference were observed for right lateralization, indicating smaller measurement error. Bland-Altman analysis indicated that measurements obtained on different days showed acceptable agreement.

CONCLUSION

Tongue pressure measurements obtained using the experimental device demonstrated reproducibility (reliability and agreement), supporting its use in clinical practice, particularly in the field of speech-language pathology.