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NCT Number: NCT07650734

Posture, Tongue Position and Pronunciation

Background: The main speech organ that affects the pronunciation of the various vowels is the tongue. The relationships between posture and voice, and between the position of the tongue at rest and posture, have been proven, but the relationship between pronunciation and posture has not yet been proven. The rationale for examining this relationship is that the imbalance and differing loads in poor neck and head posture cause different muscular arrangements of the muscles that support the jaw, tongue, and neck, which will thus affect pronunciation.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between posture, tongue position, and the correct pronunciation in subjects with and without pronunciation disorders. In addition, to examine the effect of a muscle strengthening program on these characteristics.

Methods: The study will include two parts. The first part will be a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire to examine speech therapists' perceptions of the relationship and importance of posture and pronunciation. The second part will include a prospective interventional clinical study to examine the relationship between tongue position at rest and pronunciation, posture, and muscle strength. In addition, the effect of adding muscle-strengthening training to conventional pronunciation therapy on the process of acquiring correct pronunciation will be examined.

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Key information

Conditions

Speech Dysfunction

Age range

6 year–15 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This study will examine the relationship between posture, tongue position, and correct pronunciation in subjects with and without pronunciation disorders. In addition, we will examine the effect of a muscle-strengthening program on these characteristics.

The first part will include an online questionnaire to examine speech therapists' perceptions of the relationship and importance of posture in speech therapy treatment.

The second part will include a prospective interventional clinical study with participants with and without pronunciation disorders. The evaluation measures will include: assessment of the pronunciation by a speech therapist, assessment of posture (mobile app), assessment of tongue position at rest and during pronunciation (observation and ultrasound), measurement of neck and upper limb muscle strength (manual dynamometer), tongue strength (digital measuring spoon), jaw closing muscle strength (Byte), breathing, and swallowing (observation).

The study group with pronunciation disorder will be divided into 2 groups: the intervention group will receive an exercise program to strengthen the neck and upper-limb muscles in addition to regular speech therapy treatments. The control group will receive the regular speech therapy treatments. The evaluation measures will be reviewed again at the end of the treatment series (up to 10 treatments).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • People with normal hearing
  • with and without pronunciation disorders

Exclusion criteria

  • Children and teenagers who study in special education settings,
  • children and teenagers with phonological disorders at the prosodic or segmental level,
  • children and teenagers whose parents are under the impression that they do not hear well.

Treatment and study plan

speech therapy treatment

Other

regular treatment to enhance good pronunciation

speech therapy treatment and strengthening exercise

Other

speech therapy treatment and strengthening exercise

Primary outcomes

  1. Treatment success

    Time frame: at completion of intervention - up to 10 weeks

    number of treatments until good pronunciation is achieved

Secondary outcomes

  1. neck muscle strength

    Time frame: baseline, at completion of intervention - - up to 10 weeks

    flexion and side flexion neck muscle strength via hand held dynamometer. Recorded in kilograms of force (kgf)

  2. Tongue strength

    Time frame: base line, at completion of intervention - - up to 10 weeks

    Tongue strength will be assessed using a digital measuring spoon. Measurements will be recorded in g/cm2

  3. Jaw closing strength

    Time frame: base line, at completion of intervention- - up to 10 weeks

    jaw closing strength via Byte device

  4. Tongue thickness

    Time frame: base line, at completion of intervention- - up to 10 weeks

    Tongue thickness will be measured using ultrasonography. Measurements will be recorded in millimeters (cm).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Gali Dar, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+972505662054

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Haifa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Relationship Between Posture, Tongue Position and Hebrew Sibilant Consonants Pronunciation, and the Effect of Muscle Strengthening Program in Children and Teenagers

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jun 16, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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