“Speech is power…” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Speech delays in children may at times be related to overly restrictive lingual frenum. Adequate tongue mobility is also essential for developing clear speech sounds, such as in the articulation of sounds like “t”, “d”, “l”, “r”, and “th”. Forming these sounds may be a struggle for children and adults with a significant tongue-tie.
Lisping can also be a sign that the tongue is not functioning properly. It may indicate a tongue thrust. Specific difficulty with “t”, “d”, “n”, and “l” sounds may be noted. General lack of articulation, voice quality and clarity may be an indicator that the tongue is not functioning properly during speech.
There is some evidence that children with persistent speech disorders are at increased risk of social, emotional, and academic challenges. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5708870/)
Evaluation by a Speech Language Pathologist as well as Myofunctional Therapist may be indicated.
