This advice-column-style blog for SLPs was authored by Pam Marshalla from 2006 to 2015, the archives of which can be explored here. Use the extensive keywords list found in the right-hand column (on mobile: at the bottom of the page) to browse specific topics, or use the search feature to locate specific words or phrases throughout the entire blog.
Clip a Frenulum Twice?
By Pam Marshalla
Q: Can a clipped frenulum grow back? I have a student with a hearted-shaped tongue and a restricted frenulum but his mom said it was clipped at 9 months of age.
As far as I know, it won’t grow back — however a lot of scar tissue can develop, and some people might need to have the procedure done twice.
Pam,, if it is not clipped do you think a student can have normal /s/? I have a student with lateral /s/ but parents have opted to not clip the frenulum. I have tried a variety of strategies but he still has airflow out the right side. The left side is fine. But i”m out of ideas.
Thank you ,
Tricia
A short lingua frenum should not interfere with S because you can teach a “Tip Down S” that should work. It will however interfere with good tongue-tip elevation on T, D, and N.
I was just reading some good info about tongue tie and frenectomies on this site. Check it out below for more information. Also I have seen babies that persist with a heart shaped tongue after frenectomies as an infant because that is how their muscles developed in utero and it will take time for the muscles to normalize. http://www.drghaheri.com/blog/2014/3/22/rethinking-tongue-tie-anatomy-anterior-vs-posterior-is-irrelevant
Yes, the heart-shaped tongue can continue for years if the client never learns to push the tip outward. Tease the tongue-tip with a textured probe (e.g., toothette, Nuk, fingertip) and encourage the client to “push it out”. Move the probe slowly outward to encourage the tongue-tip to push more forward. If this doesn’t work, use a probe to press into the tongue-tip (from anterior to posterior) and encourage the client to “push it out”. This type of resistance to forward movement usually is the most effective method to encourage full tongue-tip extension.