Does your child have difficulty eating, speaking, or swallowing? Are they unable to stick out their tongue? If so, they likely have tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia.
As parents, we all want to equip our children with the tools they need to be successful. At Revive Physical Therapy, we understand how difficult it can be to watch your child struggle to speak or eat. Know that our physical therapists is here to support you during this process.
The assistance your child needs can be found at our Sammamish & Issaquah, WA clinic. Contact us today to set up an appointment and gain the support your family has been searching for.
What is tongue-tie?
According to Mayo Clinic, tongue tie is a congenital condition that limits the range of motion of the tongue.
Tongue-tie is caused by an unusually short, thick, or tight band of tissue (lingual frenulum) connecting the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth, which may interfere with breastfeeding. Tongue-tie patients may have difficulty sticking out their tongue. Tongue-tie can also have an impact on how a child eats, speaks, and swallows.
More symptoms of tongue-tie include:
- Difficulty moving the tongue from side to side
- Difficulty lifting the tongue to the upper teeth
- Struggling to stick out the tongue past the lower front teeth
- The tongue appears notched or heart-shaped
If your child’s speaking, swallowing, or eating is being affected by tongue-tie, it’s time to see a therapist. The team at Revive Physical Therapy can help your child improve their functional skills and confidence.
How is tongue-tie treated?
The tongue is critical for sound formation for speech. If your child has been diagnosed with tongue-tie, they may have difficulty producing certain sounds, including:
- T
- D
- Z
- S
- Th
- R
- L
A therapist can help your child improve their ability to produce these sounds. When a child experiences speech delays, it can cause them to develop self-esteem issues and cease communicating with others out of insecurity or embarrassment.
A physical therapist can help your child learn to communicate, chew and swallow properly, and help improve their overall morale. They utilize neurological and speech exercises to help with a wide array of speech/language difficulties and will be able to assess your child’s speaking abilities.
Contact us today!
If your child is having difficulties with their speech, it doesn’t have to be a cause for worry. Contact Revive Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists.
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