Can a Tongue-Tie Affect Speech?
Yes, a tongue-tie can create speech challenges, some of which are never really thought about. Two of the most common things that I hear from parents is:
- My child has been in speech therapy for a long time and never makes any progress
- My doctor says my child has a tongue-tie but it doesn't matter unless it is affecting the speech or hurts to lick an ice cream cone
This couldn't be further from the truth, and it is an unfortunate part of my job as an educator. Many children have trouble with articulation or speech mechanics, and very few ever lift and look under the tongue. My own granddaughter suffered through 3 years of unsuccessful speech therapy. Once I made a tongue-tie diagnosis and implemented therapy she made large strides in her speech therapy.
Common red flags for a tongue-tie are trouble with certain sounds (like T, D, L, N, and R), delay in speech development, or having a lisp. There are others, but these are the most common in my practice.
What Does a Tongue-Tie Look Like?
I get asked this question a lot and this is why a comprehensive myofunctional evaluation matters.
This tethered oral tissue is just a piece of a much bigger puzzle. A tongue-tie might look very obvious when attempting to lift the tongue. I call this "low hanging fruit" because it is easy to identify. But, what about the tongue-tie diagnosis when it is not low hanging fruit? There could possibly be a deep, posterior tie, or a mild-moderate restriction that will only catch the eye of a trained and knowledgeable OMT.
When you have a comprehensive myofunctional evaluation, I look at much more than just the frenum. I look at:
- Medical History
- Allergies
- Childhood History
- Past and Present Airway & Breathing Concerns
- Speech History
- Sleep Apnea / Snoring Concerns
- Digestive Symptoms
- Swallowing
- Chronic Head and Neck Tension
- Facial Structure Evaluation
- Mouth Resting Posture
- Tongue Posture
- And more.....
During your evaluation, I will help you understand your myofunctional impairment and why you have the symptoms you do. I use this evaluation, to not only educate you but to help me create the best therapy plan for you!