SLP land is not free from drama and controversy, and there’s a lot over tethered oral tissues.
I think it’s danger to be in one camp or the other with little acknowledgement of other clinician expertise (tongue tie affects speech vs. it doesn’t). I’ve seen both, and you can’t deny either.
In my experience, as an IAOM trained orofacial myologist (+ additional trainings), and a COM™️ candidate, a tongue tie can impact speech. I’ve also seen kids with clear speech.
Quite frankly, tongue ties mystify me. Some kids have almost no issues, others have sleep, speech, feeding, postural concerns, etc. No two fingerprints are alike, nor are tongues!
I’ve seen some serious compensation in the jaw, neck, etc. for two clients who I found to have undiagnosed posterior ties and couldn’t get an /r/ if their life depended on it. I’ve seen the most severe anterior tie where the child had perfect speech. What I do see is oral posture, dentition, bite, sleep, posture, airway, etc. mostly affected. Always? No. Nothing is for certain.
I don’t evaluate and send a child automatically for a release. We have to evaluate structure AND function. Referrals are made as needed. Every child looked be evaluated through two lenses: Structure and function.
I’ll say that again- structure AND function.
If you hear an SLP use the terms “always, never” in regards to myofunctional disorders, I’d run the other way.
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