Tongue Tie
in Baton Rouge, LA
If your baby has a tongue tie, you’re likely familiar with the feeding struggles that this condition can cause. But did you know that without treatment, a tongue tie can also impact your child’s speech development and overall comfort? Thankfully, treatment for a tongue tie is simple and effective. Keep reading to learn more about this condition, how it can affect your child’s development, and how our experts at Dynamic Therapy Specialists can help your child overcome the challenges of a tongue tie with proven pediatric therapy techniques.
What Is a Tongue Tie?
A Tongue tie is a condition present at birth where the lingual frenulum, the thin piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth, is too short or tight. This restricts the movement of the tongue and can affect various oral functions, including breastfeeding, swallowing, speech articulation, oral hygiene, and breathing.
What Is the Treatment for a Tongue Tie?
The treatment for a tongue tie depends on its severity. In some cases, a simple surgery is needed to clip the lingual frenulum and allow more movement of the tongue. But most commonly, simple techniques from a lactation consultant can help improve immediate nursing challenges, and treatment from a pediatric speech-language pathologist can help improve the range of motion of your baby’s tongue without the need for surgery.
Signs and Symptoms of a Tongue Tie
Common signs and symptoms of a tongue tie in infants and children can include:
- Difficulty latching or breastfeeding for infants
- Limited tongue movement
- Inability to stick the tongue out
- Speech difficulties, such as articulation challenges
- Oral hygiene issues, such as tooth decay
- Feeding difficulties and challenges with solid food introduction
How We Address a Tongue Tie
At Dynamic Therapy Specialists, we take a holistic approach to pediatric therapy. Rather than simply teaching children how to compensate for the skills they struggle with, we take a bottom-up approach by focusing on remediation first. By evaluating the foundational areas of your child’s development, we can identify the root causes of their speech and feeding challenges (such as tongue tie) and address them with proven pediatric therapy techniques.
Think of it this way: you have to learn to walk before you can learn to run. It’s not that you can’t learn how to run, but if you never learned how to walk first, you’ll be missing the basics that you need to support learning how to run. By prioritizing skill remediation over compensation, we empower children to build a strong foundation for future growth and development.
Schedule an Evaluation Today
If your child is struggling with tongue tie, or if you have other concerns about their speech or feeding skills, our team at Dynamic Therapy Specialists will go above and beyond to help. Call us at (225) 767-5032 to schedule an evaluation, and let’s work together to improve your child’s quality of life.