Effect of Hard Palate Arch Depth in the Production of Consonant /g/ Using Flex EPG

One of the important components of communication is speech. Speech difficulties can be caused by a variety of problems that affect both adults and children, resulting in serious communication problems. Speech therapists often conduct therapy as part of treatment for speech problems. However, there is a shortage of speech therapists, specifically in Malaysia, leading to long waiting lists where patients have to wait more than three months for treatment. This research focused on developing an instrument using the Electropalatography (EPG) technique to address this issue. A Flex EPG device was developed and tested in this study. To test and validate the device, 12 people with normal speech were enrolled. They were instructed to produce the consonant /g/ while wearing the device. In the production of consonant /g/, the back of the tongue makes contact with the back of palate, creating a complete closure in the central and posterior regions of the palate. This closure blocks airflow, and when released, produces the characteristic burst of the /g/ sound. The study indicated that tongue and hard palate contact patterns during the production of /g/ consonant differ significantly among subjects and are much influenced by individual anatomical characteristics such as hard palate arch depth and first molar spacing. Speakers with lower hard palate arch depth typically show more selective tongue and hard palate contact. In comparison, speakers with greater hard palate arch depth show a broader contact pattern, especially in the velar zone. These findings emphasize the influence of subtle anatomical differences on speech articulation. The results provide a basis for tailoring speech therapy interventions to individual anatomical characteristics.