Oral Pressure Requirements for
Common Blow Toys
PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT
Introduction
Nonspeech oral-motor exercises
(NSOMEs) are treatment practices used
to enhance speech production by
allegedly increasing the muscle
tone/strength of the oropharyngeal
musculature. One particular oral-motor
approach involves blowing tasks using
common novelty horns (Figure 1).
Although many speech language
pathologists have accepted this method
as a means to improve oropharyngeal
strength, little is known about the
aerodynamic requirements associated
with using these horns.
Figure 1. Original Horns Kit By Talk Tools
Statement of
the Problem
This study will investigate the oral pressure
required to effectively blow 12 novelty
horns included in the Horn Hierarchy
program, a common NSOME.
Hypothesis
It is hypothesized that these horns will
require pressures that are lower than the
minimum pressure required for normal
speech.
Kimberli R. Ogg
Dr. David Jones
Dr. Mary Hardin-Jones
Communication Disorders
Methods
Participants
Subjects will include 10 normal-speaking children ages 4-5 years identified through
local Laramie daycare centers.
Study Site
Speech Physiology laboratory located in the College of Health Sciences at the
University of Wyoming.
Procedure
Figure 2. Example of IOP procedure
•Following informed consent each participant will be scheduled for a single one-hour
session in the Speech Physiology laboratory.
•A parent or caregiver will accompany the child to the session and will be present
throughout the data collection process.
• During the session each child will be asked to blow 12 different horns from the Horn
Hierarchy program.
•The sound produced by each horn will be sustained for approximately 2-3 seconds and
is not considered loud enough to cause discomfort.
•Intraoral pressure (IOP) will be measured via a small polyethylene tube placed beside
the horn mouthpiece; the tube will be coupled to a pressure transducer (Figure 2).
•A microphone will be positioned approximately 3” from the horn to record the sound
from the horn.
•The IOP signal will be amplified and digitized to a laboratory computer using data
acquisition hardware and software.
Importance of Study
These tasks have been used with
children who have delays in articulation
development unrelated to structural or
neurological problems, as well as with
children who experience dysarthria
(muscle weakness) and structural
complications such as cleft palate. The
importance of this study is to provide
speech-language pathologists with
information regarding the
appropriateness of using these horns in
articulation therapy.
Data Analysis
•A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) procedure will be used to analyze
differences in onset pressure and average pressure during sound production among
the12 novelty horns. The pressure required to blow each horn will be compared to
normative pressure requirements for speech.
•The results of the MANOVA will allow for further discussion of the aerodynamic
requirements associated with using common novelty horns in articulation treatment
methods.
Figure 3. Sagittal view of the
oropharyngeal musculature.
Acknowledgements
University of Wyoming McNair Program and Staff
Dr. Mary Hardin-Jones
Dr. David L. Jones
Division of Communication Disorders.