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About Janice S., M.S. CCC-SLP
Expertise
I can answer questions related to speech, language, cognition and swallowing/feeding disorders in the pediatric to adult population. I can answer questions related to congenital as well as acquired disorders. I cannot evaluate a person via the computer, however I can provide general information regarding a wide variety of speech/language/learning/cognition/swallowing deficits.

Experience
I have 18 yrs. of experience in pediatrics, adult and neonatal populations. I have worked in outpatient settings, acute hospital settings, intensive care, rehabilitation, home care, private practice, and skilled nursing facilities. I have worked with tracheostomy/ventilator dependent patients and medically complicated adults and children.

Organizations
ASHA certified and state certified since 1990

Education/Credentials
Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology; B.S. in Communication Disorders

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Parenting Special Needs > Speech Disorders > Lazy tongue

Speech Disorders - Lazy tongue

Expert: Janice S., M.S. CCC-SLP - 11/4/2009

Question
MY daughter is now 4 months old and about 2 weeks ago she started to put her tongue to one side of her mouth and sometimes sucks on it and lets it kinda hang out of her mouth. When she was born she was tongue tied, but she had the procedure done. Will this lead to speech or learning problems?

Answer
Hi Brandi, thank you for your question. Because I have not personally evaluated your daughter, do not know her medical, birth or family history, I cannot answer your question specifically.

However, based on information about "tongue tie", we know that children can be at a greater risk for feeding/swallowing issues and articulation difficulties. BUT...because at such a young age you had her issue surgically repaired, the prognosis is much better. Having a tongue tie is not always indicative of having a weak tongue.

The behavior you describe (tongue hanging out of mouth, sucking on it) could very well be "normal" oral play. Babies experiment with movements of their tongues and lips, just like they play with their hands and feet down the road. This "play" is important for developing strength, motor control, awareness of movement and for a lot of babies it feels good or funny.

Since she had a surgical repair on her tongue, you may want to (for piece of mind) contact the local early intervention provider and request to speak with their speech pathologist. It is very reasonable to request a feeding/oral motor evaluation when she is around 8+mons old. This way you can have an idea if her feeding/swallowing skills are progressing and if her oral motor/early speech sound development is on track. It is also reasonable to request that they come in every 6 mos or so, just for a re evaluation.

If in the meantime you notice that she is having difficulty with feeding or exhibiting a lack of tongue movement (tongue hanging to one side, but not on purpose, tongue hanging out of mouth all the time with difficulty getting it back in etc.) contact early intervention sooner. Your pediatrician can let you know how to contact early intervention in your area or another speech pathologist with experience in pediatrics.

I hope that I have been of assistance, if you have further questions please follow up.

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