Development of vocal tract length during early childhood: A magnetic resonance imaging study

• DOI: 10.1121/1.1835958
• Publication Date: 2005-01-11T23:02:21Z
• Authors: Houri K. Vorperian; Ray D. Kent; Mary J. Lindstrom; Cliff M. Kalina; Lindell R. Gentry; Brian S. Yandell
• Keywords: Vocal tract

Speech development in children is predicated partly on the growth and anatomic restructuring of vocal tract. This study examines pattern various hard soft tissue tract structures as visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assesses their relational with length (VTL). Measurements lip thickness, hard- soft-palate length, tongue naso-oro-pharyngeal mandibular depth, distance hyoid bone larynx from posterior nasal spine were used 63 pediatric cases (ages birth to 6 years 9 months) 12 adults. Results indicate (a) ongoing all oral pharyngeal no sexual dimorphism, a period accelerated between 18 months; (b) structure's region (oral/anterior versus pharyngeal/posterior) orientation (horizontal vertical) determine its pattern; (c) different VTL changes development-while increase throughout predominantly due pharyngeal/posterior structures, also substantially affected oral/anterior during first months life. Findings provide normative data that can be for modeling