Tongue Ties in Older Kids and Adults: What to Look For

When most people hear the term "tongue tie," they think of babies who have trouble nursing. But tongue ties don’t always show up early in life. In fact, many children and adults live with restricted tongue mobility for years without realizing it's an issue. The symptoms are often subtle or misattributed to other problems like speech delays, picky eating, sleep struggles, or even chronic jaw tension.

In my myofunctional therapy practice here in Orange County, I often meet clients who have been searching for answers to frustrating symptoms only to discover that a tongue tie is playing a role in what they’re experiencing.

A Closer Look at Tongue Ties

A tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a restriction of the lingual frenulum, the band of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When it’s too tight, thick, or short, it limits the tongue’s range of motion. While some ties are obvious, others are less visible but still functionally significant.

The body is smart. Over time, it adapts to the limitation by compensating with other muscles. This compensation can affect breathing, swallowing, chewing, speaking, and posture and it often becomes more noticeable with age.

When Tongue Ties Are Missed

In children, signs of a tongue tie may look like mild speech articulation issues, reluctance to eat certain textures, or breathing through the mouth more than the nose. These habits can be mistaken for behavioral quirks or developmental differences.

By the time a child reaches school age, the tie may contribute to orthodontic problems, snoring, or difficulty focusing in class due to poor sleep. Many families I work with here in Orange County discover the connection only after trying several other therapies or interventions first.

In adults, the signs are often physical and chronic. You might notice tension in your jaw, neck, or shoulders. You may clench or grind your teeth at night, or feel that your tongue doesn't quite "fit" comfortably in your mouth. Sleep may be disrupted, even if you sleep through the night. Some adults describe always feeling like their tongue is getting in the way when they speak, but they’ve never been told why.

Why It Matters

The tongue is not just important for speech. It plays a central role in airway support, swallowing, and guiding facial development. When it cannot move freely or rest properly on the palate, other systems step in to compensate and this often creates strain.

Myofunctional therapy helps by identifying dysfunctional patterns and retraining the muscles of the mouth and face. When a tongue tie is suspected, we work to evaluate function, not just structure. This means looking beyond how the tie appears and focusing on how it affects everyday habits like breathing, chewing, and speaking.

If a release procedure is needed, therapy both before and after can improve outcomes significantly. The goal is not just to snip tissue, but to restore proper movement, posture, and coordination.

You don’t have to live with symptoms that never seem to resolve. Whether you're raising a child with oral development concerns or you're an adult navigating years of muscle tension or disrupted sleep, a tongue tie could be a missing piece of the puzzle. Myofunctional therapy offers a supportive, non-invasive way to explore what’s going on and take meaningful steps forward.

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