Many parents first hear the words “tongue-tie” during the newborn stage when breastfeeding feels harder than expected.
Others don’t hear about tongue-tie until much later when a toddler begins speech therapy or struggles with certain sounds.
This often leads to an important question:
Can tongue-tie affect both breastfeeding and speech development?
The answer is yes because the tongue plays an important role in feeding, oral development, and speech throughout childhood.
What Is Tongue-Tie?
Tongue-tie (also called ankyloglossia) occurs when the tissue under the tongue is tighter or shorter than usual.
This can limit how freely the tongue moves.
The tongue is responsible for many everyday functions including:
• breastfeeding
• swallowing
• chewing
• speech sounds
• resting posture in the mouth
When the tongue cannot move easily, some babies and children develop compensations that affect these skills.
How Tongue-Tie Can Affect Breastfeeding
For newborns, the tongue plays a major role in latching and milk transfer.
A restricted tongue may make it difficult for a baby to:
• latch deeply
• maintain suction
• move milk effectively
• coordinate sucking and swallowing
Parents sometimes notice signs like:
• nipple pain
• nipple damage
• frequent feeds
• slow weight gain
• babies tiring during feeds
Many families first seek lactation support when these challenges appear.
How Tongue-Tie Can Affect Speech Later
As children grow, the tongue becomes important for producing certain speech sounds.
Some children with tongue restrictions may have difficulty with sounds that require tongue movement such as:
• L
• T
• D
• N
• R
• S
Tongue mobility also affects oral muscle strength and resting posture, which can influence how speech develops over time.
However, not every child with a tongue-tie will have speech difficulties.
A professional evaluation helps determine whether the tongue is functioning well enough for speech and feeding.
Why Some Tongue-Ties Aren’t Discovered Until Later
Sometimes babies adapt surprisingly well during infancy.
Parents may not notice concerns until toddlerhood when they see:
• speech delays
• unclear articulation
• mouth breathing
• open-mouth posture
• feeding challenges with solids
At that stage, families often begin connecting the dots between oral development and earlier feeding history.
The Benefit of Early Evaluation
Evaluating tongue function early can help families understand whether support may be helpful.
Depending on the child, support might include:
• lactation consultation
• oral motor therapy
• myofunctional therapy
• collaboration with pediatric dentists or chiropractors
Not every child needs a procedure — sometimes functional therapy and exercises provide the support needed.
A Unique Approach to Supporting Families
Hi, I’m Bethany a Speech-Language Pathologist and Lactation Consultant serving families in the Indianapolis area.
Because my background includes both feeding and speech, I often support families through the entire journey from infancy into toddlerhood.
I work with babies and children who need help with:
• breastfeeding challenges
• oral development
• tongue-tie support
• speech development
• myofunctional therapy
My goal is always to help parents understand what they’re seeing and feel confident supporting their child’s development.
When Parents Begin Asking Questions
If you’re noticing feeding challenges, speech concerns, or oral development questions, it can be helpful to start with a few simple resources.
You can explore support here:
👉 Learn About In-Home Lactation Support
👉 Learn About Speech & MYO Therapy
If your toddler is still using a pacifier and you’re wondering if it may be affecting oral development, you can also start here:
👉 Take the Pacifier Readiness Quiz
