Speech production in young children with tongue-tie. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salt, Holly; Claessen, Mary; Johnston, Timothy; Smart, Sharon
• Is Part Of: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. Volume 134(2020:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Tongue-tie -- Ankyloglossia -- Speech -- Intelligibility -- Tongue mobility -- Children; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Oto-rhino-laryngologie -- Périodiques; Pédiatrie -- Périodiques; 618.9209751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-5876

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs in 4–10% of the population. Treatment of tongue-tie has increased by 420% in Australia between 2006 and 2016 and 866% in the United States between 1997 and 2012. Despite limited evidence, it has been suggested that tongue-tie can result in speech sound disorder (SSD). This study aimed to investigate tongue mobility and speech production outcomes in children with and without tongue-tie diagnoses. Method: Fifty-nine children aged 2; 1 to 4; 11 years were recruited and formed three groups: treated tongue-tie (TTT), untreated tongue-tie (UTT) and no tongue-tie (NTT). Measures of lingual frenulum structure and function, tongue mobility, speech production, and parent and clinician intelligibility ratings were collected. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the TTT, UTT and NTT groups for tongue mobility, speech production or intelligibility. Significantly more UTT children had a history of speech pathology attendance than participants in the NTT group. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence of no difference between tongue mobility and speech outcomes in young children with or without intervention for tongue-tie during infancy. This study assists with clinical decision making and makes recommendations for families not to proceed with surgical intervention for tongue-tie during infancy, for the sole outcome of improving speech production later in life.