Use of a biomechanical tongue model to predict the impact of tongue surgery on speech production

Stéphanie Buchaillard (1) , Muriel Brix (2) , Pascal Perrier (1) , Yohan Payan (3)

1 GIPSA-AABC - GIPSA - Acoustique, Aéroacoustique, Biomécanique et Contrôle
2 CHUGA - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire [CHU Grenoble]
3 TIMC-IMAG-GMCAO - Gestes Medico-chirurgicaux Assistés par Ordinateur

This paper presents predictions of the consequences of tongue surgery on speech production. For this purpose, a 3D finite element model of the tongue is used that represents this articulator as a deformable structure in which tongue muscles anatomy is realistically described. Two examples of tongue surgery, which are common in the treatment of cancers of the oral cavity, are modelled, namely a hemiglossectomy and a large resection of the mouth floor. In both cases, three kinds of possible reconstruction are simulated, assuming flaps with different stiffness. Predictions are computed for the cardinal vowels /i, a, u/ in the absence of any compensatory strategy, i.e. with the same motor commands as the one associated with the production of these vowels in non-pathological conditions. The estimated vocal tract area functions and the corresponding formants are compared to the ones obtained under normal conditions

Mots clés: biomechanical modelling; tongue surgery; glossectomy; speech production

Domaines: Biomécanique [physics.med-ph]; Biomécanique [physics.med-ph]; Ingénierie biomédicale

Stéphanie Buchaillard, Muriel Brix, Pascal Perrier, Yohan Payan. Use of a biomechanical tongue model to predict the impact of tongue surgery on speech production. MAVEBA 2007 - 5th International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications, 2007, Florence, Italy. pp.79-82. ⟨hal-00267452⟩