Functional Improvement of Speech, Feeding, and Sleep After Lingual Frenectomy Tongue-Tie Release: A Prospective Cohort Study

Recent studies suggest that speech, solid feeding, and sleep difficulties may be linked to restricted tongue function. In this study thirty-seven patients participated in the study with ages ranging from 13 months to 12 years. Children with tongue restrictions and speech, feeding, and sleep issues underwent lingual frenectomies with a CO2 laser paired with oral motor or myofunctional exercises. This study is the first prospective study to report improvement in solid feeding after tongue-tie release, and the results demonstrate that children with dysphagia, difficulty managing a food bolus, and other feeding issues should be evaluated for tongue-ties which limit posterior tongue elevation and impair swallowing. Questionnaires were completed before, 1 week after, and 1 month following treatment. Overall, speech improved in 89%, solid feeding improved in 83%, and sleep improved in 83% of patients as reported by parents.