What Is Tongue Tie—and Can It Affect My Child’s Speech?
Many parents hear the term “tongue tie” during infancy—but are unsure if or how it may impact their child’s speech development. While not all tongue ties cause problems, in some cases they restrict tongue movement enough to interfere with feeding, swallowing, and even talking.
At Speech Therapy Centre of Canada, we help families identify, assess, and manage tongue tie and its impact on communication. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia)?
Tongue tie is a condition where the lingual frenulum (the thin band of tissue under the tongue) is too short, tight, or thick—restricting tongue movement.
Mild cases may go unnoticed. But in moderate to severe cases, children may have difficulty:
- Lifting or moving their tongue freely
- Sticking out their tongue past their teeth
- Swallowing properly
- Making certain speech sounds
Can Tongue Tie Cause Speech Delays?
Not always—but it can contribute to articulation problems, especially with sounds that require tongue elevation or movement, such as:
- T, D, L, N
- S, Z
- R (a more complex sound)
Children may substitute, distort, or omit these sounds, making speech less clear.
However, it’s important to remember: not every child with a tongue tie has speech issues, and not every speech delay is due to tongue tie. That’s why a full speech-language assessment is crucial before jumping to surgery.
How We Assess Tongue Tie at Our Clinic
At Speech Therapy Centre of Canada, we use a multidisciplinary approach to determine whether a tongue tie is impacting communication. Our assessment includes:
- Oral Motor Exam – Checking tongue range, strength, and coordination
- Speech Sound Evaluation – Identifying any patterns or errors linked to restricted movement
- Feeding History – Especially in infants or toddlers
- Consultation with ENT or dentist – If surgical release (frenectomy) is being considered
What Happens If a Tongue Tie Is Diagnosed?
If we determine that the tongue tie is affecting your child’s speech:
- We may refer you to a trusted pediatric ENT or dentist for a release (called a frenectomy).
- Speech therapy may be recommended before and after to help retrain tongue movements and ensure correct speech sound production.
For some children, therapy alone may be enough to overcome compensations, especially in mild cases.
What Does Post-Treatment Speech Therapy Look Like?
After a tongue tie release, your child may benefit from therapy focused on:
✅ Oral-motor exercises to strengthen and retrain tongue movement
✅ Articulation therapy for impacted sounds
✅ Techniques to improve clarity and confidence in speaking
✅ Ongoing monitoring of progress
Why Choose Speech Therapy Centre of Canada
Our clinic offers a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to tongue tie concerns. We don’t rely on assumptions—we assess the whole child and collaborate with medical providers when needed.
We provide:
- In-depth speech and oral-motor assessments
- Collaboration with ENTs, paediatric dentists, and lactation consultants
- Personalized speech therapy before and/or after tongue tie release
Virtual or in-person care for families across Ontario
Book a Consultation Today
🏥 Locations: Richmond Hill & Ajax
💻 Virtual Speech Therapy: Available across Ontario
📞 Phone: 905‑886‑5941
📧 Email: info@speechtherapycentres.com
🌐 Website: speechtherapycentres.com
Let’s give your child the tools to express themselves with confidence. Book your first appointment today.
The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada is a team of dedicated speech-language pathologists (commonly known as S-LPs or speech therapists) and speech-language pathology assistants (S-LPAs) who provide assessment and therapy services to children and adults with communication disorders. Our S-LPS, S-LPAs and support staff are truly committed to providing the highest quality of service to our clients and their families. We understand that navigating the world of speech therapy may be daunting so our client services team is prepared to help you every step of the way.
