Understanding and Overcoming Tongue Tie in Singers
18/06/2023 & Updated on 12/10/2024
As a singer, you spend countless hours perfecting your technique, honing your skills, and ensuring your vocal health. Yet, despite all your efforts, singing might still feel like a juggling act, far from easy or relaxed. There’s a condition that you might not even be aware of, one that can significantly impact your vocal performance: tongue tie, or ankyloglossia.
Let me reassure you on beforehand: A tongue tie can be treated fairly easily!
In any case, the first step is myofunctional exercises for the lips, soft palate, jaw and tongue. Doing these exercises is great for singers with ànd without tongue ties. You will benefit in a myriad of ways from these exercises in function of optimal oral tone, tongue posture and breathing.
If after this treatment, it turns out that your tongue mobility is still restricted, it might mean that you have a tongue tie and a frenectomy might offer you tremendous relief.
I currently offer 4 webinars on the tongue in The singsing! Sofa Library:
In the following blog post, you’ll find a nice summary and outline of the webinar on Tongue Tie in Singers led by Jessica Luffey, in which you’ll learn all about tongue ties and the possible effects on your singing.
What is a Tongue Tie?
Tongue tie occurs when the lingual frenulum, the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short or tight. This restriction can limit your tongue’s movement, leading to difficulties with breathing, eating, speaking and singing. It’s a congenital condition, meaning it’s present from birth, but its impact can vary widely from person to person.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Jessica Luffey highlights in the webinar Tongue Tie in Singers that tongue tie can severely impact a singer’s performance. She explains that even slight restrictions can make a significant difference in how a singer controls their voice. This condition can interfere with the fine motor skills needed for precise vocal control, leading to a struggle with intonation, dynamics, and vocal agility.
Here are some challenges you might face:
- Articulation Issues: It might be difficult for you to pronounce certain sounds clearly.
- Limited Range of Motion: You might find it hard to reach the high and low extremes of your vocal range.
- Fatigue and Strain: Because you need to work hard to produce sound, your voice might easily feel fatigued and strained.
- Reduced Vocal Quality: A less flexible tongue can affect your resonance and tone.
- Breath Management Issues: Maybe you struggle with inhalation and maintaining proper breath management, due to difficulty connecting to your pelvic floor.
- Anxiety and Stress: As you constantly struggle with breathing and your overall vocal performance, you might deal with increased anxiety and stress, affecting your overall mental health and confidence.
If you recognize these challenges, you probably did not connect them with a possible tongue tie. Maybe you have been attributing them to lack of technique or vocal training? Maybe you thought that you were just not good enough?
I’m telling you, you are not bad at singing! You have been dealing with a lot of restrictions and as I already mentioned in the introduction: A tongue tie can be resolved.
Breath Management Issues
The interconnectedness of the body via fascia means that a tongue tie can affect more than just the tongue. The deep frontal fascial line that runs from the tongue to the toes, is essential for various aspects of singing.
If you have a restricted tongue, you often struggle with connecting to your pelvic floor and lower breath management. This connection is vital for sustaining long phrases and maintaining vocal stability. Without a strong connection to the pelvic floor, you may find it challenging to access the deep breath management necessary for controlled and powerful singing.
A tongue tie can also cause problems with relaxed inhales. You might find it difficult to take deep, relaxed breaths. Instead, you may experience tension and difficulty during inhalation, which can disrupt the foundation for a steady and efficient exhalation needed for singing.
This difficulty in breathing can also trigger anxiety, which can affect your performance, creating a cycle of stress and tension.
Beyond Singing: Other Impacts of Tongue Tie
While the effects on singing are significant, tongue tie can also have broader impacts on your life:
- Speech Difficulties: Persistent articulation issues can lead to challenges in everyday communication.
- Eating and Dental Problems: Difficulty in chewing and swallowing can lead to poor nutrition, reflux and dental issues, including tooth decay and gum disease.
- Sleep Disorders: Tongue tie has been linked to sleep apnea and other breathing-related sleep disorders due to restricted airway space.
- Social and Emotional Impact: Struggles with speech and eating can lead to social anxiety, low self-esteem, and heightened stress levels.
- Anxiety and Stress: The constant battle with the limitations imposed by tongue tie can result in significant anxiety and stress, affecting both personal and professional aspects of life.
- Developmental Delays in Children: For children, untreated tongue tie can result in delays in speech and language development, affecting their academic and social interactions.
So yes, it’s really important to recognize and address a tongue tie, not only for singers but for the overall well-being of everybody!
Diagnosing Tongue Tie
You now might start to wonder whether you have a tongue tie. Or maybe your voice teacher / vocal coach has pointed it out to you already. However, a definitive diagnosis requires a professional evaluation, often by an Ear Nose Throat doctor, orofacial / myofunctional specialist or a speech-language pathologist. They will assess the range of motion of your tongue and the presence of any restrictive tissue.
Curious to know how this works? In the webinar Do YOU Have a Tongue Tie? Assess and Discuss With the Ten Tongue Tie Tests, myofunctional therapist Emily Kirkcaldy has assessed the participants and figured out whether they may have oral restrictions, how it may impact them and what to do next.
It’s important to be aware of the fact that many health professionals may not be up-to-date with the latest knowledge about tongue tie, which can lead to it being dismissed. This means that you might have to advocate strongly for yourself. Look for a specialist who is well-versed in the most current understanding and treatments for tongue tie to ensure you receive the best care.
Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are several treatment options available:
- Speech Therapy: Tailored exercises and techniques to help singers adjust and improve their vocal performance despite restrictions.
- Frenectomy / Frenuloplasty: These surgical procedures involve cutting the restrictive tissue to free up the tongue’s movement. They are typically quick and performed under local anesthesia.
- Myofunctional Therapy: This involves exercises designed to improve tongue mobility and strength. We had lots of fun with the myofunctional exercises in the webinar The Tongue, Lips & Jaw Gym, led by myofunctional therapist Emily Kirkcaldy!
This therapy can be particularly useful pre- and post-surgery or as a standalone treatment in milder cases.
Your treatment should always be tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Here’s some extra reading material if you are a science geek 😉
Muscle tension dysphonia in singers and professional speakers with ankyloglossia: Impact of treatment with lingual frenuloplasty and orofacial myofunctional therapy
During the webinar Tongue Tie in Singers led by Jessica Luffey, we heard from several singers who shared their journeys with tongue tie. One particularly compelling story was from Emma, a professional soprano, who struggled for years with vocal fatigue and limited range. After a frenectomy and myofunctional therapy, Emma experienced a significant improvement in her voice and stamina. Her story is a testament to the potential positive outcomes of addressing a tongue tie.
Are you curious about possible restrictions you might have? Do you want to stretch and strengthen your tongue? Welcome to these four webinars! 👇🏼
Do you want to release tension in your tongue, jaw and around your larynx?
Subscribe to the Library, watch the webinar Releasing the Larynx, Tongue & Jaw, and enjoy the benefits of stretching muscles you might’ve never heard of!
Sarah Joyce - Singer & Voice teacher
Fiza - Singer & Tour guide
Kees Meerman - Singer & Voice Teacher
Do you want to learn much more about tongue ties? Are you eager to do the self-assesment routine and identify whether you have restricted tongue mobility or even a tongue tie?
Subscribe to the Library, watch the webinar Tongue Tie in Singers led by myofunctional specialist Jessica Luffey and don’t let a hidden condition hold back your singing!
Do you want to get to work with myofunctional exercises for the lips, soft palate, jaw and tongue – for people with ànd without tongue ties?
Subscribe to The singsing! Sofa Library, watch the webinar The Tongue, Lips & Jaw Gym, led by myofunctional therapist Emily Kirkcaldy and exercise your lips, soft palate, jaw and tongue in function of optimal oral tone, tongue posture and breathing!
Gemma Milburn - UK based Singer and Vocal Coach - Takes voice lessons with Sarah Algoet and has completed Myofunctional Therapy with Emily Kirkcaldy
Are you curious about your own tongue function and its impact? Explore with the Ten Tongue Tie Tests, and see how you fair
Subscribe to The singsing! Sofa Library, watch the webinar Do YOU Have a Tongue Tie? Assess and Discuss With the Ten Tongue Tie Tests, led by myofunctional therapist Emily Kirkcaldy and figure out whether YOU may have oral restrictions, how it may impact you and what to do next.
Kim LaFever, Avocational singer
Stella Handley, Avocational singer
Gabby Hemmer, Professional singer and Voice teacher
As always, feel free to send me your thoughts, questions, and feedback in the comments below this blog, via the contact form or in the singsing! online community 
Cordially,
Sarah