Question
Does a tongue tie abnormality in newborns lead to unclear speech?
Answer
A tongue tie abnormality in newborns may affect tongue movement, hindering clear speech. Generally, a normal tongue tie should allow the tongue to move freely, with the tip able to naturally protrude out of the mouth. However, some children may have a shorter tongue tie, which may affect the tongue’s ability to extend forward, thereby impacting pronunciation clarity. For newborns, the current ear pulling behavior may be related to dry weather or prolonged crying causing vocal cord congestion or nasal mucus blockage, which may affect breastfeeding and breathing. It is recommended to use a humidifier to increase indoor humidity to improve hoarseness and nasal congestion. For nasal mucus, it can be cleaned using a wet cotton swab after being moistened with warm water, avoiding direct removal to prevent injury.