Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2024

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department

Communicative Disorders

Degree Program

Communicative Disorders, MS

Committee Chair

Williams, Rhonda

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Frazure, Michael

Committee Member

Frazure, Michael

Committee Member

Smith, Alan

Author's Keywords

tongue-tie; ankyloglossia; frenulectomy; oropharyngeal; dysphagia; MBSImP

Abstract

Swallowing is an intricate process involving over 50 muscle pairs and numerous nerves, with dysphagia resulting from deficits in various stages (Hennessy & Goldenberg, 2016). Lingual restriction may adversely impact swallowing function, affecting bolus preparation, size, and overall efficiency. Tongue-tie can pose challenges to speech, chewing, and swallowing (Becker & Mendez, 2022; Chaubal et al, 2011; García-Pola, M. J., et al., 2002). This pilot study seeks to determine how tongue-tie affects swallowing function in an adult male, and whether surgical revision of a submucosal lingual tether leads to measurable changes in oropharyngeal swallow function. Results showed inconsistent changes in diameter and area measurements and in MBSImP™© scoring for swallow function post-frenectomy. Further research is needed to explore therapy's influence on swallow outcomes after a frenulectomy procedure in a larger patient sample undergoing tongue-tie surgical revision.

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