tongue tie

[nolie]

I need some advice.my 5 year old son has tongue tie he sees a speech therapist and until yesturday they thought he had dyspraxia but now they think he hasnt got that and its his tongue tie causing his speech problems.They want me to see my doctor about getting it cut.My son had a operation last year on his lung to remove cysts. I dont know if i could put him through another operation but may be I have to. what do you think? Also is it worse having it cut at his age?

[Rafi]

I had tongue tie as a child & was finally diagnosed by an elocution teacher at the age of 11, after years of speech therapy. I had it cut under general anaesthetic & stayed one night in hospital, remember having a sore mouth for a bit after but that's it.

It was SO worth it though! It made all the difference to my speech - I would recommend having it done for your son.

[MelissaIBCLC]

Hello,
I am a lactation consultant in private practice and work closely with families dealing with ankyloglossia (tongue tie). First of, I think it is great that your SLP caught the tongue tie and recommended treatment. Many providers still believe that tongue tie causes no problems. I beg to differ. I see immense improvement in feeding, speech, dental issues and so on when treatment is done (usually a frenotomy (although depending on the severity of the tie a frenectomy or frenuloplasty may be needed). With a 5 year old there may be follow up oral motor therapy or speech therapy to help retrain his tongue but catching it sooner rather than later is better. You may want to look at Carmen's book on www.tonguetie.net for some great info. In addition my own web site has good tongue tie info: www.lunalactation.com/Articles.htm

[nolie]

Thank you for your reply to me I feel much better after reading your advice and I know that it will help him in the long run.Its nice hearing from someone who went through it at a later time in their life.I know its usually babies who have it cut and I was worried because ben is 5 but you was even older.Thank you so much.kind regards jo

[nolie]

I just wanted to say thank you for all your advice it has really helped me to decide that I need to get this tongue tie sorted so I can help him with his speech. I am going to look up the sites you told me about to reasure me even more.Thank you for all your help you dont know how much it has helped me to calm down and not stress so much.kind regards jo

[Rafi]

Good luck Jo After the operation I had elocution classes for a while to sort my speech out but it didn't take long at all, & as you say I was a lot older. I remember eating huge amounts of ice cream once I was home from hospital (not that I was milking it or anything!)

[nolie]

Hi funny you say about the ice cream I was trying to explain to my son today how it will be easier for him to talk if we got rid of his tongue tie and I brought up about him getting to eat lots of ice cream,he liked that bit too.
It was a just a big shock hearing about this on friday because for the past two years they thought he had verbal dyspraxia and I have moved to a new area under another borough and at his first speech app here they are sure he has not got dyspraxia just a very bad tongue tie(which is better)but just hate the thought of him having another operation.It has put my mind at rest hearing from you that was even older as I was worried he was too old at 5.Im speaking to the gp this week as the speech therapist told me to do that and get them to send us to the hospital to see a ent doctor.Thank you for all your help.kind regards jo

[Keziahhopes]

Hi, my niece had tongue tie and was operated on aged 2.6 - she was only in hospital for 5 hours, including the operation and already her speech is beginning to improve. My sister had to fight to get the operation (was told to wait until 3 adn get speech therapy) but for them they are happy with the operation and results. Dn ate crisps straight after operation!!

[nolie]

That is so good to hear I have just made a doctors appointment for wed and I have the back up of the speech therapist now so I am going to go for it,My son has had to work so hard on his speech and if this works in time he should be able to stop going to speech therapy.That is good to hear your niece was eating crisps straight away that was worrying me a bit .I am so glad I came on this site because I was really in two minds about putting him through this after he has had one big operation but reading all the comments people have left for me I feel it is better in the long run for my son to have this.Thank you so much. kind regrards jo

[Keziahhopes]

Hope appointment goes well - my sister was apprehensive too and afterwards she was so happy as it was such a small procedure compared to what she had thought! And as she said, one half day at hospital (where she got to wear her own pj's for the op) is nothing compared to months/years of speech therapy. All the bestx

[TheUnmentioned]

Im not sure but my 2 week old had hers cut, it took a second, she cried when he did it and then fell straight back to sleep! It didnt bleed but I suspect it was a bit tender for a day or so.

[nolie]

Thank you.It will be lovely to be able to stop going to speech therapy once he has learned how to retrain his tongue.We have been going for 2 and a half years already.kind regards jo

[nolie]

Thank you for your message you must of been so scared with your baby being so young but I wish they had done my sons at an early age, but as it never caused him problems with eating they didnt bother.since my sons lung operation he is so scared of hospitals I hate to put him through it again but I know now that in years to come he will be glad he had it done.Just hope the waiting list isnt too long.His new speech therapist and school have been great though .kind regards jo

[Keziahhopes]

Could you choose together a nice present for being brave to open after he comes round??

[nolie]

Thats a good idea.I have been talking about it to him because he hates it when hospital things are sprung on him and he has stopped saying now he wants to keep his tongue tie as he likes it.so Im hoping we are getting there a bit.i will try the present choosing though.Thank you for all your help.

[Rafi]

Good for you Jo.
My main feelings at the time were intense relief that someone had finally worked out what the problem was, & utter fury that it hadn't been picked up much earlier & saved me years of frustration. You're definitely doing the right thing.

[nolie]

Thank you Rafi.I was talking to one of the mums at school today and her friends 4 year old had her tongue tie cut last month.All this makes me feel better.I hope once its done he finds his speech easier.I got the report from speech therapy today and im going to take that to the doctors with me as she states that his problem seems to be because of the tongue tie.

[Keziahhopes]

That report is brilliant support for you, so hope you get it done soon. The fact you know of others having the operation near you means they do operate in your area and although you may have to push, you have the right to a referral from your gp etc.

I am sure your son will enjoy choosing his reward!! Or as a surprise!!

[nolie]

Can you believe it I had my speech for my g.p all prepared and the surgery phoned the doctor we was seeing is off sick(didnt even know doctors get sick ha ha)so they have rearranged our appointment for tomorrow instead.It is great having the report though because the g.p will know its not just me as a mother pushing for this,and you are right it must mean our area do operate on tongue tie.The area I used to live in didnt like to do it.I will let you know tomorrow what the g.p says fingers crossed the ball will start rolling tomorrow to get this sorted once and for all before my son goes back to saying he wants to keep his tongue tie.

[nolie]

Hi we went to the doctors and after looking at my sons tongue and reading speech therapy report she agreed that it would be better for him to have it sorted so she is writing to the hospital to get him seen even though my son told her he likes it and wants to keep it.

[MelissaIBCLC]

Thanks for the update and good luck sorting things out. In the meantime I highly recommend you visit the www.tonguetie.net site and my site as mentioned above and/or order the book before the surgery so that you can be fully informed. In general the only issue I see with a frentomy/frenectomy is that some providers don't release enough of the tongue. You want an ENT or oral surgeon that is used to doing this and releases the tongue fully. Checking out the sites and the book will help you discuss the procedure with the doctor and help you know what questions to ask to make sure the doctor doing the procedure knows his or her stuff. Good luck!
By the way, I work with many families whose children undergo frentomy and not one family has ever said, "gee I wish we hadn't done that", everyone has only been pleased with getting it done.

[TankFlyBossWalk]

Good luck.

My DD had her tongue tie 'snipped' when she was weeks old (it was very frightening to hold her little head as still as I possibly could!) and I have no regrets. She latched on much more successfully and her speech now (two years, five months) is nice and clear. I don't think it would have been if her tongue was still tied.

[nolie]

Hi melissa.Thank you for all your help I have checked out your site and it did make things much clearer.My doctor did surprise me a bit I asked about what it would look like when cut and she said they dont cut it they push it back further in the mouth by reshaping it.Does that sound normal to you?I know once we get the hospital appointment through they will tell me if what the doctor said is true but it would be great if you could tell me if thats right so I know now.It is great to hear that people never regret having it done makes me know I am doing the right thing.

[nolie]

Hi TANKFLYBOSSWALK thank you for your reply it really helps When I hear people saying they are glad they had the tongue tie done and the speech is better.my son has had to work really hard on his speech to get to where he is and he is so good he never gets frustrated if you have to get him to repeat what he said.

[Keziahhopes]

nolie - so glad your dr has agreed to the referral for you. I did smile at your son telling the gp he liked it though, bless him ... when he is 21 I am sure he will say otherwise!

[nolie]

Dear Keziahhopes.Thank you for your kind words.my son seems to think tongue tie causes more problems.Friday he was really playing up so I told him off and he said "mum its not my fault its because I have tongue tie"I had to leave the room so he didnt see me laugh.