A tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, can potentially affect a baby's speech development if it interferes with their ability to suck, swallow, and manipulate their tongue and lips effectively. Some infants with a tongue-tie may have difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, leading to poor weight gain, poor oral muscle strength, and difficulty with speech formation. In severe cases, a tongue-tie may require treatment such as a frenectomy, a procedure to release the tongue from the floor of the mouth, to improve feeding and speech development. However, not all babies with a tongue-tie will experience speech difficulties, and the impact of a tongue-tie on speech can vary greatly from baby to baby. If you have concerns about your baby's speech development or feeding, it is important to consult a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist.
