Oral Pressure Requirements for Common Blow Toys Kimberli R. Ogg Dr. David Jones Dr. Mary Hardin-Jones Communication Disorders Introduction University of Wyoming McNair Program and Staff Dr. Mary Hardin-Jones Dr. David L. Jones Division of Communication Disorders. Statement of the Problem Hypothesis 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. This study will investigate the oral pressure required to effectively blow 12 novelty horns included in the Horn Hierarchy program, a common NSOME. 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 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. 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. It is hypothesized that these horns will require pressures that are lower than the minimum pressure required for normal speech. Importance of Study Data Analysis Methods Acknowledgements Figure 2. Example of IOP procedure PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT Figure 1. Original Horns Kit By Talk Tools 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.