Big Tongue Girl :)

What is a tongue thrust?
Tongue thrusting is the act of pressing the tongue against or between the front teeth during the swallow. This is normal for early feeding. Babies thrust their tongues forward for easy, efficient nursing. More efficient tongue movements gradually replace this infantile swallow pattern as the child’s mouth muscles mature. Children usually accomplish this transition by the age of three years.

What are the signs of a tongue thrust?
Tongue thrusting may cause dental alignment problems. Your dentist will identify these problems and recommend appropriate treatments and referrals. The signs of tongue thrusting may include:
• Tongue protrusion when swallowing
• Tongue protrusion to meet the food or liquid
• Use of liquids to wash down foods
• Resting the tongue between or against the    teeth
• Breathing with an open mouth
• Sucking the fingers, thumb or tongue
• Protruding front teeth

How long does it take to correct a tongue thrust?
Intervention consists of a brief, structured program to teach tongue control while swallowing, speaking and relaxing.

Does tongue thrusting affect speech sound production?
Tongue protrusion during the swallow may result in use of the same protrusion pattern during production of sounds. Sounds potentially affected include “s”, “t”, “d”, “n”, “l”, “sh”, “ch”, and “j”. These are considered articulation errors and require therapy in addition to tongue thrust management.

So, what does this matter to us? Everything. Our sweet, cute Abigail has tongue thrust. Turns out, we suspect that Daddy does too (that you cannot detect in his speech because of his years in speech pathology). Now our baby girl will be starting speech pathology to learn to drink, swallow, sleep and speak correctly. It just amazed me how powerful the tongue is and how it effects so much. It is one of those things you don't realized God has designed to function so amazingly until it doesn't quite work like it is supposed to. As happy that I am that we have the resources to provide help for her, a weird part of me will miss her little tongue hanging out when she sleeps and the "cute" way  she speaks when she overcomes her tongue thrust. I guess I will have to get some video of her speaking before her tongue starts doing what it is supposed to. :)