The Art of Singing: Can a Tongue-Tie Cause Problems?

Is your child in the choir at school? Do they hold an imaginary microphone in the car to belt out some of their favorite songs? Singing can be an enjoyable hobby for young kids; however, they might find it frustrating at times, especially if they have a tongue-tie. If you want to give your child a boost of confidence, find out how this restricted tissue is holding them back and what can be done to fix it.

How Does a Tongue-Tie Hinder Singing & Vocal Quality?

When the band of tissue located underneath the tongue remains restricted, it can create problems with speech, eating, and even breathing. But being unable to form certain words or sounds isn’t the only issue.

Children with tongue-ties can also experience difficulty singing. Being unable to move their tongue freely can cause them to miss the high notes in a particular song or even lead to strained vocal cords. As a result, they may become more fatigued when trying to sing.

This can be a real problem if they are a part of a choir or band.

How Can Releasing a Tongue-Tie Improve One’s Singing Ability?

By releasing a tongue-tie, your child or teenager will immediately begin to notice a difference. Although it may take some time to get used to the newfound range of motion, some patients have discovered greater confidence in their singing ability.

Whether it’s hitting a note that was previously unreachable, increasing their range, or feeling less fatigued after singing a song, the effects of treating a tongue-tie can make a significant and positive difference.

How Can a Tongue-Tie Be Treated?

If your child or teenager is struggling to sing, it’s important to have them examined for a lip or tongue-tie. When seeing a professional, they can evaluate whether restricted tissues exist and if so, recommend what is known as a frenectomy.

Safe and easy to administer, the process involves using a soft tissue laser to quickly sever the tissue and release it so that the tongue has a wider range of motion. A frenectomy takes only minutes to complete and requires little or no downtime following treatment. Because of the laser’s optimal precision, it causes minimal bleeding and swelling.

Instead of being held in place, the tongue will be able to move up and down and side to side so that your child can freely make sounds that were once impossible.

Give your child the chance to fully embrace what they enjoy most – singing. By treating their tongue-tie with the help of a trusted expert, you can help them gain the confidence they need to share their voice with others.

About the Author
Dr. Maggie Davis earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Florida. A board-certified pediatric dentist and Diplomate in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, she is certified in treating tongue-ties and lip-ties by the American Board of Laser Surgery. She is also a graduate of Dr. Richard Baxter’s Tongue Tie Academy and TOTs: Tethered Oral Tissues Program. If your child has a tongue-tie and enjoys singing, call our office at (727) 786-7551 or visit our website. We can help treat the problem so that they can belt out their favorite song no matter where they are.