Parent question

Does tongue-tie cause speech problems?

Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

The short answer

Usually not. A 2020 expert panel of US ear, nose and throat specialists agreed that tongue-tie does not typically affect speech, and systematic reviews have found the evidence on speech weak and conflicting. If you’re worried about your child’s speech, the panel advised seeing a speech-language pathologist (SLP) before any procedure for speech reasons.

What the experts and reviews say

The 2020 consensus statement from the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery panel agreed that tongue-tie does not typically affect speech, and that an older child having a procedure for speech concerns should see a speech pathologist first. It called the speech studies low quality, with conflicting results (Messner et al., 2020).
The panel also agreed it isn’t necessary to cut the frenulum of a baby with little or no restriction to prevent a future speech problem (Messner et al., 2020).
A 2015 systematic review found the evidence insufficient to judge the effects of frenotomy on outcomes other than breastfeeding, including speech (Chinnadurai et al., 2015).
A 2022 review of 16 low-quality studies found no clear link between tongue-tie and speech difficulties; most studies that compared treated children with untreated ones found no significant difference (Wang et al., 2022).

The evidence is weak in both directions, so this isn’t advice for or against a procedure. It’s a reason to get a speech evaluation first.

Which sounds?

Tongue-tie is sometimes blamed for trouble with L, R and TH, the sounds that need the tongue tip raised or pushed forward. The expert panel wrote that these can usually still be made even with significant restriction, because children find other ways to make them (Messner et al., 2020). Most errors on these sounds are a normal part of development: see speech sounds by age.

Procedures have become more common

In US hospital data from 1997 to 2012, tongue-tie diagnoses in children rose from about 3,900 to about 32,800, and frenotomies from about 1,300 to about 12,400 (Walsh et al., 2017). That covers inpatient records only, but it shows how much more often tongue-tie is now diagnosed.

What to do

If your concern is speech, start with an SLP evaluation. How to get a free one.
Tongue-tie can cause other problems for some children, like difficulty licking or keeping teeth clean, which the panel also recognized. Discuss those with your child’s doctor or dentist.
Ask any provider what evidence supports a procedure for your child’s specific concern.

Questions parents ask

Will cutting a tongue-tie fix my child’s speech?

There isn’t good evidence that it does. Reviews call the speech studies low quality and conflicting, and the expert panel advised an SLP evaluation first for speech concerns.

Can tongue-tie cause a lisp?

The expert panel found tongue-tie does not typically affect speech. Lisps are common in young children for other reasons; see the S sound guide.

Should my baby’s tongue-tie be cut to prevent speech problems later?

The 2020 expert panel agreed this isn’t necessary for babies with little or no tongue restriction. Feeding concerns are a separate question for your child’s doctor.