Tongue Movement in the Elderly

为了研究舌抖动，利用超声系统观察了青壮年和老年人两种不同频率的舌体上下运动。用超声记录仪从运动模式下记录舌面的上下运动，比较两个年龄段的舌面运动节奏和运动速度。主要发现：1.采用5 MHz超声凸面换能器和运动模式观察的超声系统，在舌面上、下运动时，舌面有清晰的痕迹。老年人的向上和向下运动节律比青壮年更加不规则。老年人舌体上下运动速度明显减慢(p&lt；0.01)。如果老年人的运动速度不同，速度没有明显的变化。这项研究的结果表明，老年人的口腔运动行为与年轻人不同。

In order to investigate tongue shill upward and downward tongue movements with two constant frequencies were observed by using an ultrasound system in young and elderly adults. Upward and downward movements in accordance with a metronome were recorded by ultrasono-recorder from the motion-mode.Movement rhythm and movement velocity of the tongue were compaired in the two age groups.The main findings were:1. The ultrasound system with 5 MHz ultrasound convex transducer and motion-mode observation produced clear traces of the tongue surfaces in the sagital plane during upward and downward movements.2. Upward and downward movement rhythms in the elderly were more irregular than those of young adults.3. Velocity of tongue upward and downward movements were statistically decreased in the elderly (p<0.01). velocity did not clearly change if the movement speed was different in the elderly.Results of this study revealed that oral motor behaviour in the elderly differed from that of young adults.