Tongue Tie Adults Test

How to Test and What You Need to Know

Many adults live with conditions that we assume are just part of life. One such condition is tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, which can persist from childhood and become worse in adulthood.  As an adult, you may be searching for a tongue tie adults test and you’ve come to the right place.

If you’ve ever experienced speech issues, chronic jaw pain, or difficulties with certain tasks like chewing or swallowing, you might be dealing with a tongue tie. But how can you tell for sure? Here, we’ll explore how adults can test for a tongue tie and what next steps you can take.

At Lynn’s Tied Together Hub, I’ve often written about the importance of addressing tongue ties, especially for adults who may not realize how much this condition affects their everyday lives.

In this post, we’ll guide you through a simple at-home test and discuss why identifying a tongue tie no matter your age can make a world of difference in your overall health.

What Is a Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie occurs when the band of tissue (lingual frenulum) that connects the underside of your tongue to the floor of your mouth is too tight or short.

This restricts the tongue’s range of motion, leading to various issues ranging from speech impediments, problems with oral hygiene, snoring, sleep apnea, TMJ to neck aches and lower back pain.  

While many people think tongue ties are only a childhood issue, they can persist into adulthood causing a multitude of issues you may not be aware are connected to the tie.

The Tongue Tie Test for Adults

Function:

Something is not working right, feels off, and just plain bothers you.  That is why you began this search and are looking for an adult test for a tongue tie.  So, let’s take a look at the function. 

It is never just about what a tie looks like, rather, more importantly, it’s about the function this tie may be hindering. 

If you’re wondering whether you have a tongue tie, here are some simple steps to test the function:

Tip: Stand in front of a mirror while doing this to observe your tongue’s movement.

Tongue Resting:

Keeping your mouth closed, take a deep breath in through your nose.  Now feel where your tongue is resting while you breathe in and out.

1. Is it resting by your bottom teeth?
2. Is it resting between your upper and lower teeth?
3. Is it resting up in the palate with the contact of the mid-back of the tongue pressing into the molar gum ridge?

If you answered A or B, you have a low resting tongue posture and may have a tie. Our tongues “rest” by being suctioned into the roof of the mouth, this is often a difficult function for an adult who is tongue-tied.

Tongue Elevation:

Open your mouth wide and try to lift your tongue tip to the roof of your mouth. A typical tongue should easily reach the upper palate and be able to push into it.

            Indications of an adult tongue tie:

You struggle or feel resistance, and it’s hard to keep your mouth open.

You have a space between the roof of your mouth and your tongue tip.

The tip is bowed with a dip in the middle of the tip.

Now let’s try a tongue click.  Suck that tongue up into the palate as hard as you can and pop it down to create a click.  Repeat this 10x.  A typically functioning tongue will have equal strength and pop noise on all 10 clicks.

            Indications of an adult tongue tie:

            The pop is not loud

            It’s difficult to coordinate this action across 10 trials.

            The last click is sloppy and strained compared to the first click.

            It was difficult to motor plan the click at all.

Next, let’s click, but this time hold the click up into the roof of the mouth and open the mouth wide without letting the tongue fall down.  Typically, we like to see the entire tongue from front to back sucked up into the palate and you can easily hold it there for a minute (60 seconds).

            Indications of an adult tongue tie:

            The mid to back of the tongue is not up, just the tip is.

            It is slipping down every few seconds and you struggle to keep it up.

            It is straining the floor of your mouth and underbelly of your tongue to hold it up.

            It hurts your jaw to hold it up there.

Speech:

Tune in to how you pronounce certain sounds.  When saying T, D, L, and S where do you feel your tongue?  Adults with tongue ties often have difficulty pronouncing these with the elevation required for correct function. 

Is your tongue tip between your teeth on any of these sounds? If yes, you’ve been using a compensatory placement to achieve the sound, and the function is incorrect. This may cause fatigue when speaking and create slurring speech.

Other sounds that may be affected are SH CH J and R.  Typically, as a child R is a difficult sound to achieve when tongue-tied and you may have been in speech therapy for years trying to master this production.

Jaw sliding forward when making S SH CH or J ?  If you feel a slight gliding forward in the jaw as you say “Search” then your jaw may be compensating for poor range of motion in the tongue to properly produce these sounds.

If function on speech tasks is impacted, you may have a tongue tie.

Eating:

Also, take note if you tend to chew with your mouth open or struggle with foods that require thorough chewing, like steaks or salad.  Are there foods that you avoid?  When tongues are tied, they do not manipulate food easily and fatigue quickly.

You may be open-mouth chewing and swallowing too much air with your food bolus.  This can cause digestive upset, such as burping and gastrointestinal pain. 

You may have a tongue tie if the function for eating tasks is impacted.

Jaw and Neck Pain:

Chronic jaw or neck pain can be another sign of a tongue tie. The limited mobility of the tongue often causes strain on surrounding muscles.  These other areas are compensating for the tongue.  Function is dependent on harmonious movements; pain is an indication that there is a hiccup in the system. 

If you experience jaw and or neck pain, maybe even constant headaches, then you may have a tongue tie.

Now that we have covered some possible functional indications of a tongue tie, we will move on to looks! 

What Does a Tongue Tie Look Like?

Visual Inspection

Let’s lift that tongue into the roof of the mouth again.  This time we will examine visually the frenulum itself.

With your tongue sucked up into the palate you’re looking at the band of tissue under the tongue that is connecting it to the floor of the mouth.

            Is it short and fat?

            Is it thin and long but blanched white?

            Is it pulling tightly and looking strained, popping out away from the muscle?

Each restriction can look and act differently. Someone may have a very minimal visual tie in appearance yet report many oral and general health complaints that can be linked back to the tie.

Another adult with a very pronounced visual tie may report very few interfering issues in their oral and overall health.

Here are some reference photos to help you identify an adult tongue tie:

Soroush Zaghi, MD (ENT- Sleep Surgeon) founder of the Breathe Institute has a wonderful resource with adults identifying and releasing tongue ties.  There are images to help clearly define what a tongue tie might look like.  You can find it here https://www.zaghimd.com/frenuloplasty-how-we-do-it

It is important to consider both the visual and the functional impact when completing a tongue tie adults test.  Here’s a link to a quick at-home guide that summarizes these points and provides you with a visual in helping to identify your tongue tie. The 1-2-3 Look-Feel-Touch Adult Tongue Tie Test

My Test Results

How’d you do?  As you read through the functional section did you relate to a few or almost all?  When you visualized and inspected your frenulum how did it appear?  These two factors of Function and appearance will help you determine if you have a tongue tie.

Contacting a professional who specializes in tongue tie releases will help you solidify your suspicions.

Next Steps: What Should You Do if You Suspect a Tongue Tie?

If any of these tests suggest that you might have a tongue tie, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP), ENT, Oral Maxillary surgeon or a Dentist who specializes in myofunctional therapy can assess your tongue’s mobility and recommend treatments. At Lynn’s Tied Together Hub, we frequently highlight the benefits of treatments, such as:

• Myofunctional Therapy: A series of exercises designed to strengthen the tongue and improve its range of motion.  Including soft tissue releases to address the fascia and unwind its labyrinth of hiccups through the oral musculature.
• Frenectomy: A quick and safe procedure where the tight frenulum is released surgically, allowing for better mobility.  The Dentist, ENT, or Oral Maxillary Surgeon will use a laser to remove the excess tissue binding the tongue.  Healing time is approximately 2 weeks at the site of the surgery.

To find a team near you please check out this state-by-state reference guide www.tonguetielife.com

But remember not all providers are created equal.  It’s ok to get second and even third opinions.  Sometimes personalities just don’t mesh, take your time and find a therapist you trust and feel comfortable with.

Why Is It Important to Address Tongue Ties in Adults?

Now that you’ve completed your tongue tie adults test and determined you may indeed have one why is it important to address it?

At Lynn’s Tied Together Hub, we’ve discussed the profound impact tethered oral tissues can have on various aspects of adult life, including speech, feeding, oral hygiene, TMJ, digestion, breathing, and even posture. Tongue ties can lead to:

• Speech difficulties: Even mild tongue ties can cause articulation problems.
• Chronic headaches or migraines: A restricted tongue forces compensatory movements, leading to strain on the jaw, neck, and even shoulders.
• Swallowing difficulties: If you find yourself struggling with swallowing pills or foods, a tongue tie may be limiting your tongue’s mobility.
• Sleep apnea or snoring: A tongue tie can prevent your tongue from resting comfortably against your palate, which might lead to airway obstructions during sleep.

Those adults who have been tested and determined to have a tongue tie, and then gone on to release it and complete a thorough myofunctional program, report amazing quality-of-life improvements.

This can be the case for you too!

Conclusion -Tongue Tie Adults Test

Identifying a tongue tie as an adult might seem daunting, but with the simple tests outlined above, you can gain insight into whether a tongue tie could be affecting your health and well-being.

If any of the signs resonate with you, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Remember, it’s never too late to improve your quality of life by addressing tethered oral tissues.

 At Lynn’s Tied Together Hub, we’re here to provide resources, support, and guidance every step of the way.

Do you suspect you might have a tongue tie? Share your experience with us in the comments below, and be sure to check out our other posts on adult tongue ties, lip ties, and more on Lynn’s Tied Together Hub!