What’s wrong with Mavie? The speech therapist explains the condition of Neymar Jr.’s daughter.

Bruna Biancardi charmed her followers by sharing a funny video with her daughter Mavie2 years, the result of a relationship with Neymar Jr.. In the images, the girl speaks to her mother with a diction praised by fans, and the detail did not go unnoticed: Mavie She underwent a lingual frenectomy at age five months to correct tongue tie, a condition that can interfere with speech and breastfeeding.

What is tongue tie

Tongue knotting, or ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenulum, the small membrane that connects the tongue to the base of the mouth, is too short or stiff, making movement difficult. The speech therapist Letizia Sennachild language specialist, explains that the problem is more common than you might think.

“When the frenulum is too thick or too small, the tongue loses mobility and this interferes with vital functions such as sucking, swallowing and articulating words”says the expert.

How to identify

Joy informs that the signs vary depending on the age of the child. In newborns, signs may include difficulty breastfeeding, weak sucking, and tiredness while breastfeeding. In older children, speech disorders and difficulty pronouncing sounds such as “r”, “l” and “t” are the most common symptoms.

“When the baby sticks out his tongue and it looks heart-shaped, it is a strong indication of ankyloglossia,” explains.

When treatment is necessary

Not all cases require surgery. According to the speech therapist, professional support is the first step. “With oral exercises and mobility training, many patients are able to improve tongue movement without the need for a procedure,” he says.

In more serious cases, frenectomy is indicated, a simple surgical operation that interrupts the brake and restores mobility. The procedure can be performed by dentists, surgeons or ENT specialists.

Care after surgery

After frenectomy, speech therapy is essential to re-educate tongue movements and strengthen muscles. “Success depends on the postoperative work. It is at this time that the child learns to use his new mobility correctly and safely,” explains Letizia.

Early diagnosis is essential

The speech therapist emphasizes that each case must be assessed individually. “There are children with a short frenulum who show no symptoms and do not need interventions. The mistake lies in operating unnecessarily”, I notify. With early diagnosis and adequate monitoring, the child can develop normally, without any impact on speech, feeding or socialization.

Source: Terra