A head and transducer support system for making ultrasound images of tongue/jaw movement.

A head and transducer support system (HATS) was developed for use in ultrasound imaging of tongue movement. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that captures tongue motion during speech and thus has great appeal as a tool for speech research. However, because ultrasound systems are designed for clinical use, the transducer is hand-held and it is almost impossible to hold it completely steady under the chin when collecting tongue data. A system was needed to fix the head and support the transducer under the chin in a known position without disturbing speech. The HATS system was designed, constructed, and modified to provide valid, reliable tongue movement data by (1) immobilizing the head and (2) positioning the ultrasound transducer in a known relationship to the head.