The topic becomes important because many parents visit ENT specialists believing that their child cannot speak because of tongue tie. However, Dr. Rahul Agrawal says these are actually two completely different situations. One condition is when the child speaks but stammers or has difficulty pronouncing some sounds. The second condition is when the child is unable to speak at all.

According to him, tongue tie mainly affects pronunciation. A child with tongue tie can usually speak sentences, but may struggle with specific sounds or words that require the tongue to rise upward. Words involving sounds like “T,” “D,” “S,” or similar letters may become difficult to pronounce clearly. In such cases, the child may stammer or speak unclearly, but the child is still able to talk.

Dr. Rahul Agrawal highlights that many parents make the mistake of assuming that surgery for tongue tie will solve every speech-related problem. He explains that several patients come after tongue tie release procedures without significant improvement because the real issue was different.

If a child is completely unable to speak, then tongue tie is usually not the reason. In such situations, doctors may need to investigate hearing or nerve-related problems. Tests such as OAE and BERA are often advised to evaluate hearing and nerve function properly.

Dr. Rahul Agrawal also mentions that speech therapy plays a very important role in children with pronunciation difficulties. Whether tongue tie release is required or not should always be decided by an ENT specialist after proper examination.

The main purpose of this discussion, according to Dr. Rahul Agrawal, is to educate parents about the difference between speech delay and stammering. If a child is speaking but struggling with pronunciation, tongue tie may be one possible reason. But if the child is not speaking at all, then proper hearing and developmental evaluation becomes extremely important. Early consultation and timely treatment can greatly improve outcomes for both conditions.