Pediatric Speech Therapy for a Tongue Tie
For children with a tongue tie, communicating with others and performing everyday tasks like eating and speaking can be difficult. This condition restricts the tongue’s movement, which often leads to speech challenges and difficulty with feeding.
At Fluens Children's Therapy, we offer expert speech therapy to help children overcome these challenges. With routine therapy and your support, we can build your child’s speech, language, and feeding skills for a lifetime of confidence and success.
What Is Tongue Tie?
Tongue tie (or ankyloglossia) is a condition where the band of tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth (the lingual frenulum) is shorter or tighter than usual. This restricts the movement of the tongue.
When the tongue’s movement is restricted by a tongue tie, it can be difficult for children to make clear speech sounds or even effectively nurse, eat, or drink. A tongue tie can be mild to severe and may sometimes require surgery to correct.
What Causes a Tongue Tie in Children?
Tongue tie is a congenital condition, meaning it’s present at birth. While the exact cause is not always clear, it’s believed that genetics may play a role. In some families, tongue tie appears to be hereditary, and it is usually more common in boys than in girls.
How Can a Tongue Tie Affect Your Child's Speech or Language Development?
Children with a tongue tie may face several challenges related to speech and language development. These may include:
- Difficulty articulating certain sounds, especially those requiring tongue elevation or movement (like “t,” “d,” “r,” and “l”)
- Lower speech clarity due to limited tongue mobility
- Challenges with nursing and feeding, which can impact speech muscle strength
- Delayed language development if speech sounds are difficult to produce
- Frustration or reduced confidence in communication skills
How Pediatric Speech Therapy Can Help Children With a Tongue Tie
Fluens Children’s Therapy provides specialized speech therapy designed to address the specific needs of children with a tongue tie. Our therapists work closely with each child to improve their speech clarity and functional communication skills.
We use techniques designed to strengthen the tongue’s range of motion. By combining these exercises with fun activities to develop proper speech sound production, our team can help your child achieve clearer, more confident speech and improved feeding skills.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
Ready to give your child the support they need for clearer speech and more confident communication? Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) at Fluens Children’s Therapy are ready to help!
Reach out to our team in University Place, WA, at (253) 212-3502 or our team in Columbia, TN, at (931) 982-6092 to schedule an evaluation today.