title: Effectiveness of tongue-tie division for speech disorder in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of tongue-tie division (frenuloplasty/ frenulotomy) for speech articulation disorder in children with ankyloglossia (tongue-tie).
  
  
  METHODS
  Articulation test was done in five children (3-8 years old) with speech problems who underwent tongue-tie division. The test consisted of 50 pictures of common Japanese words with 2-3 syllables. The patients were interviewed by a speech therapist and asked to pronounce what the picture card showed. Misarticulations of substitution, omission, and distortion were assessed. The preoperative results were compared with postoperative examinations at 1 month, 3-4 months, and 1-2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen substitutions that were observed in four patients preoperatively decreased to 10 in three patients at 1 month, 7 in three patients at 3-4 months, and 1 in one patient at 1-2 years postoperatively. Five omissions that were observed in four patients preoperatively decreased to 3 in three patients at 1 month, 2 in two patients at 3-4 months, and 1 in one patient at 1-2 years postoperatively. Thirteen distortions that were observed in five patients preoperatively decreased to 8 in four patients at 3-4 months but increased to 11 in three patients at 1-2 years postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substitution and omission improved relatively early after tongue-tie division and progressed to distortion, which is a less-impaired form of articulation disorder. Thus, distortion required more time for improvement and remained a defective speaking habit in some patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare Atami Hospital, Atami, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Takatama
mesh_terms: D000072676:Ankyloglossia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D066229:Speech Sound Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: ankyloglossia; articulation test; frenuloplasty; frenulotomy; tongue-tie