Effect of Frenulotomy in Tongue-Tie : Focused on Alveolar Sounds

설소대 단축증 아동의 설소대 절개술 전 후 치조음 발음 양상의 변화

Background and Objectives : Tongue-tie, or partial ankyloglossia, is manifested by an abnormally short and thick lingual frenulum. Degree of tongue-tie varies from the mild to the rare, severe and its treatment of choice is frenulotomy. Theoretically tongue-tie can affect expression of alveolar sounds. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the degree of articulation problem and to evaluate the efficacy of frenulotomy itself on alveolar sounds in tongue-tie patients. Materials and Methods : Prospectively, the authors performed preoperative and postoperative speech evaluation using picture consonants test for tongue-tie patients. Percentage of consonants correct(PCC), mean value of each alveolar phoneme depends on articulation site were evaluated. for exclusion of other articulatory improving factors except of frenulotomy itself, postoperative picture consonants test was performed 1 month after surgery. Results : Preoperative speech evaluation was performed to 37(male 21, female 16) patients and postoperative speech evaluation was performed to 17(male 9, female 8) patients, the other 20 patients were follow-up loss. Low PCC was observed in tongue-tie patients and PCC of female was higher an at of male in 2-4 years old patients. Overall PCC was improved after frenulotomy. Preoperative mean value of liquids and fricatives was lower than the other alveolar phonemes(p＜0.05) and it was improved postoperatively(p＜0.05). Conclusion : Frenulotomy itself can improve the articulation of liquids and fricatives on short follow-up. Speech therapy would be needful for improvement of the other alveolar phonemes.