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 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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