Should I Worry
Your kiddo is having speech problems. You think it might be related to him being tongue tied, but you’re not really sure if that’s the issue. All you know for sure is that you want to do what’s best for him.
You need the answers to several questions before you can decide what to do next. First off, what does it mean to be tongue tied? Is it a problem? When is it a problem? And last but not least, how can it affect my child’s speech?
What Is Tongue Tied
The frenulum is a small bond of mucous membrane, and it connects the middle part of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. The frenulum helps with several functions like swallowing, sucking, eating, and speaking. To be tongue tied is to have the frenulum fused, either partially or fully, to the tongue and the bottom of the mouth.
The specific term for being tongue tied is ankyloglossia. Being tongue tied is usually discovered soon after birth. A child who is tongue tied may not be able to touch the roof of his mouth or move his tongue side to side. He may not be able to stick his tongue out past his teeth. His tongue also looks heart shaped when it sticks out.
Does It Lead To Speech Difficulties
Now, to the sixty-four thousand dollar question…does being tongue tied cause speech problems? In our own experience, being tongue tied may affect latching and feeding of the baby, but it doesn’t cause speech impediments (especially if the frenulum was cut as a baby). Most professionals would also agree. According to the majority of studies and articles that have been written on the issue, no direct link can be drawn between speech problems and being tongue tied. Dr. Ann Kummer, a speech professional states, “There is no empirical evidence in the literature that ankyloglossia typically causes speech defects.” Kummer also points out that there is very little literature that has been written that even mentions both speech defects and being tongue tied.
Let’s look at a specific example. The tongue is directly involved in making several speech sounds. Some of these sounds are t, d, and n. The tongue normally needs to be in a certain position to make those sounds. But even a kiddo who is tongue tied can successfully make those same sounds by putting his tongue in a different configuration. This is strong evidence to support that being tongue tied doesn’t have to affect speech at all.
Is Surgery An Option
Perhaps you may still be thinking that it’s still better to have surgery to fix being tongue tied. Just a few things to remember: It has not been conclusively proven that being tongue tied affects speech. Also, a child’s mouth naturally undergoes drastic changes within the first five years of life, and consequently sometimes the frenulum separates on its own. Next, surgery should be seriously considered if being tongue tied affects the mouth’s ability to function, such as when eating, sucking, swallowing, and in certain cases, speaking. Finally, the best time to consider frenulum surgery is shortly after birth.