Speech and Language Outcomes in Patients with Ankyloglossia Undergoing Frenulectomy: A Retrospective Pilot Study

Abstract

Ankyloglossia is a controversial topic with no standardized treatment guidelines. A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify children who underwent lingual frenulectomy for speech and language impairment. Impairment severity was recorded pre- and postoperatively as mild, mild to moderate, moderate, moderate to severe, or severe. Variables were tested with chi-square analysis for their statistical relationship to improvements in speech and language. Children with preoperative moderate and moderate-to-severe speech and language impairment attained better speech and language outcomes after frenulectomy as compared with children with mild and mild-to-moderate impairment (100% vs 82%, P = .015). Sutured closure after frenulectomy was associated with better speech and language improvements (100% vs 83%, P = .033). One could consider observation of patients with mild and mild-to-moderate speech and language impairments. Sutured closure might result in better improvements in speech and language impairments. This pilot study sheds light on the potential impact of a larger study currently underway.

The effect of ankyloglossia and tongue‐tie division on speech articulation: A systematic review

“…The study selection process is shown in Figure 1. In total, 16 studies 4,5,13,15‐27 with a total sample size of 2244 participants were included in this systematic review for further analysis. Figure 1 indicates a flowchart of the studies included in the selection process.…”

“…In a review article in 2020, Khan et al explained that the controversial conclusions on articulation that were drawn across the different studies were due to heterogeneity in the outcome measurements and the lack of appropriate statistical comparisons 7 . Additionally, Daggumati et al 13 pointed out the lack of accepted guidelines on the management of ankyloglossia as an additional possible factor contributing to this controversy.…”

Impact of ankyloglossia on the language development of children

“…studies have conflicting results and the outcome measures are different [7][8][9][10]. Therefore, there is no universal consensus on how to approach ankyloglossia regarding future speech problems.…”

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

“…4 Last, Daggumati treated 48 children and found that those with moderate speech impairment benefited more than those with mild impairment. 5…”

“…4 Last, Daggumati treated 48 children and found that those with moderate speech impairment benefited more than those with mild impairment. 5 Most tongue-tie research focuses on breastfeeding, with several randomized controlled trials and other studies demonstrating benefit to the nursing dyad. [6][7][8][9][10][11] Solid feeding issues were not reported to occur with tongueties until a 2018 case series linking 5 children with posterior tongue restrictions to feeding difficulties.…”