37. Does a tongue tie affect speech or feeding?

Yes, a tongue tie can sometimes affect both feeding and speech, depending on how tight or restrictive it is.
For infants and toddlers:

-It can make breastfeeding or bottle feeding difficult, causing poor latch, long feeding times, or nipple pain for mom
-Some babies may struggle to get enough milk, which can affect weight gain.

For older children:
-Tongue tie can sometimes impact speech development, making certain sounds harder to pronounce (like “t,” “d,” “l,” or “r”)
-It may also make eating certain foods, licking, or clearing food from the mouth more challenging

Not every tongue tie causes problems, but early evaluation helps determine if a procedure, called a frenectomy, is needed to improve feeding, speech, and oral development.