Direct Observation of Tongue Positions in Speech--A Patient Study

Tongue position for four selected consonants, /s/, /k/, /l/, and /t/, was observed and photographed through an opening in the cheek of a patient. The cheek had been resected to remove a tumor. On comparison of the tongue positions with those described in the literature, it was found that the variations in tongue position were negligible. Although the patient had a large facial defect, speech alrity was also not affected. As reconstructive surgery was not immediately feasible, a cheek prosthesis was fabricated for the facial aspect.