Patient's question:
The child has only been born for a few days, and recently, for some reason, they keep scratching their ears. I was wondering if an abnormal frenulum linguae could cause unclear speech?Doctor's answer:
Hello, based on your description, it is difficult to determine. Generally, a normal lingual frenulum allows for smooth tongue movement, enabling the tip of the tongue to naturally extend outward or move upward to touch the upper gum. However, in some cases, the lingual frenulum may develop abnormally, leading to a condition known as an abnormally short frenulum. This can affect tongue protrusion and hinder clear speech. The symptoms currently observed in the newborn may be related to dry weather or prolonged crying, which could cause vocal cord congestion or edema. Nasal crusts may also lead to nasal congestion, affecting breathing during feeding.If there are no symptoms of a cold, a humidifier can be used to increase indoor air humidity, which may help improve hoarseness and nasal congestion. For removing nasal crusts, gently moisten them with warm water and clean them thoroughly with a damp cotton swab. It is crucial not to remove them directly to avoid injury.