Effectiveness of frenuloplasty and post-operative speech rehabilitation in patients with ankyloglossia and dysarthria.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of frenuloplasty and post-operative rehabilitation as remedies for speech disorders in children with ankyloglossia.

METHODS

Articulation testing was done before and after surgery in 74 patients with ankyloglossia and dysarthria who underwent frenuloplasties. Overall evaluations included disease classification, Tongue-tie Assessment Score status, correctly pronounced word counts (word accuracy test), abnormal articulation profiling (omission, substitution, and distortion), speech intelligibility rating, and range of tongue mobility. Articulation testing took place at pre-operative baseline and post-operatively at 1, 3, and 6 months, as well as at 1 year and on final days of any training required beyond 1 year. Test results were appraised in phases, examining patient groups at 6 months (n = 39), 1 year (n = 19), and > 1 year (n = 8) of rehabilitation.

RESULTS

Rehabilitation ≥ 6 months was necessary in 89.2% (66/74) of patients. Counts of correctly pronounced words gradually rose as a result. Both speech intelligibility and range of tongue mobility also steadily improved. In terms of abnormal articulation, omission and substitution increasingly declined after surgery, whereas distortion showed a slowing or heightened tendency at ~ 3-6 months.

CONCLUSION

Long-term rehabilitation is required to correct dysarthria, once acquired. Ankyloglossia should be corrected before patients learn to speak.