Ankyloglossia, or tongue tie, is a congenital condition where the lingual frenulum restricts the tongue’s movement. This physical restriction can affect feeding efficiency in infancy and later speech development. Proper diagnosis and assessment are necessary to determine whether speech production is affected and to distinguish between this condition and other causes of speech difficulty.
What Is a Tongue Tie Release?
A tongue tie release is a medical procedure intended to improve tongue mobility by altering the lingual frenulum. The principal technique is a frenotomy, which involves a simple cut of the frenulum. Frenotomy is usually performed in infants or when minimal tissue requires release. It is a brief procedure, with local or no anesthesia, and most infants feed immediately afterward.
What Is It For?
The aim of tongue tie release is to address functional limitations resulting from a restrictive lingual frenulum. The issue is most often inefficient breastfeeding for infants. In older children, concern may be due to clear, documented speech articulation problems that correspond directly to physical restrictions. Surgical intervention is generally reserved for cases where there is direct evidence that the frenulum’s restriction is impeding oral functions like feeding or the production of specific speech sounds.
Decision-making is guided by careful multidisciplinary assessment. Functional evaluation involves not only examination of tongue anatomy and movement but also observation of breastfeeding (when relevant) or detailed speech analysis. Not all speech disorders can be attributed to tongue tie, making a professional evaluation fundamental to providing appropriate care.
What Does the Process Involve?
The process starts with an assessment by a pediatric healthcare provider. This multidisciplinary approach can include examining tongue appearance, range of motion, and observation during feeding or speaking. For infants requiring frenotomy, the procedure may be quick. It is typically performed in a clinic as an outpatient. Minimal bleeding and discomfort are common, and most infants resume feeding immediately.
Older children may need the procedure performed under anesthesia. The surgery allows for a more comprehensive release, alteration of tissue, and closure with sutures if necessary. Aftercare may involve instructions for oral stretches or exercises to maintain the extended range of motion and prevent re-attachment. For those with speech delay or articulation differences prior to surgery, speech therapy can be part of postoperative care. Therapy focuses on training tongue movement to take full advantage of the increased mobility and assisting with the correct production of affected sounds.
Outcomes of tongue tie release vary depending on the severity of restriction, the child’s age at intervention, and the degree of functional impairment pre-procedure. While some children demonstrate improvement following release, others may need ongoing therapy. Not all children with this condition experience complications or developmental issues, and resolution of feeding or speech difficulties is not guaranteed by surgery alone.
Confer With a Pediatric Specialist
Professional evaluation is recommended when tongue tie is suspected to impact feeding or speech. Pediatric specialists can assess the extent of anatomical restriction. They can determine links to feeding or articulation challenges and guide families toward evidence-based interventions tailored to each child’s needs.
