How Do I Know if A Tongue Tie Is Affecting My Singing Voice? (Signs Singers Should Look For)
How Do I Know If A Tongue Tie Is Affecting My Singing Voice?
-Insights from a formerly tongued tied vocal coach and professional singer
The possibility of having a tongue tie isn’t something most singers think about- I certainly never did and I have been a vocal coach for over 15 years!
Many singers have quite rightly never heard of tongue ties. A small amount may have had one ‘clipped’ as a child. Others know they are tongue tied, but have been reassured that it shouldn’t affect their singing.
And then there is another group- singers who simply feel like their voice doesn’t behave in the way their teachers, colleagues and MDs expect it to — despite training, practice, and good coaching. (I was in this group.)
If you relate to any of these situations, this blog may be helpful to you.
For a long time, tongue ties were considered either rare or only relevant in the context of infant feeding. Because of this, many singers were told that even if they were tongue-tied, it wouldn’t influence their voice.
However, in the last 5-10 years, specialists in the areas of airway health and fascia, understand that the connection between tongue restriction and vocal function is undeniable. (It is still a very niche topic, but we can talk about that another time.)
You Can’t Always Tell by Looking at Your Tongue
One of the most common misconceptions about tongue tie is that you can diagnose it simply by looking at your tongue and/ or sticking it out.
In reality, it’s often much more complicated than that.
Some tongue ties are easy to see, but others sit deeper inside the fascia of the tongue and may not look unusual at all. (What’s a tongue supposed to look like anyway?)
Because of this, Myofunctional Therapists (specialists who assess tongue function) usually look at how the whole system behaves, not just the appearance of the tongue itself. They will likely assess the range of motion of your tongue and jaw, your chewing and swallowing habits, the size of your palate and more, in order to gauge whether your tongue is restricted.
How Tongue Mobility Can Influence Singing
One of the keys to understanding this is by understanding fascia. Fascia is a powerful connective tissue that runs in various lines throughout the body. The tongue is part of the Deep Front Line of fascia, which begins at the tongue and weaves its way down through the diaphragm, hips, legs all the way down to the toes. (Yes, having a tongue tie can affect your feet.)
Because of these fascial connections, restricted tongue movement can often be linked to
restricted breathing coordination
tension in the upper body (jaw, neck shoulders, upper abdominal area)
Body alignment, pelvic tilt and lower back pain
When movement in one area is limited, the body often adapts elsewhere to compensate. Sometimes compensations can be helpful, but often they are not- and this is one of the biggest challenges that tongue tied singers face.
In my tongue tie aware coaching service, I support singers who are navigating these kinds of patterns, whether they suspect they may be tongue-tied, are preparing for a release, or are integrating changes afterwards.
Patterns Outside Singing That Can Offer Clues
For some people, restricted tongue mobility can be associated with things like:
mouth breathing
forward head posture
neck and shoulder tension
headaches
reflux/digestive issues
dental crowding/braces and orthodontic relapse
sleep disturbances such as snoring or restless sleep
difficulty swallowing and/or chewing
These experiences don’t automatically mean someone is tongue-tied, but noticing patterns like these can be clues that a Myofunctional assessment may be helpful.
Patterns that come up while we are singing
Some tongue-tied singers describe experiences such as:
Vocal fatigue
The voice tires or becomes hoarse quickly during rehearsals, gigs, or practice sessions.
Difficulty with agility
Riffs, runs or faster singing is hard or impossible.
Range feeling restricted or inconsistent
High notes may feel tight or difficult to access, while low notes may feel unstable or non-existent.
Persistent jaw, neck, or tongue tension
Even when trying to relax, certain areas of the body feel braced or stuck during singing.
Breathing cues that don’t seem to translate into sensation
Instructions about breath support may feel confusing or irrelevant.
Their voice tends to sound overly breathy or nasal The voice may sound unintentionally breathy or nasal.
None of these experiences automatically mean that someone is tongue-tied, but they are common in people who are.
What Singers Can Do Next
If any of this resonates with your experience, don’t panic. I get a lot of emails from singers who have discovered they are tongue tied and are feeling a lot of pressure to do something about it.
Tongue tied people are born that way, and it is worth taking the time to explore the best possible options for yourself as a singer. Several of my tongue tied clients have no interest in seeking treatment, and that is more than OK. I have also supported many singers through the treatment process and helped them adapt to the new things their voice can do.
Having a tongue tie is usually not an urgent matter, however the ‘wrong’ treatment could leave you no better off and potentially out of pocket, so take your time to decide what is best for you.
Learn more about best practice treatment options here.
A Supportive Place to explore your voice
My own discovery that I was tongue-tied completely changed the way I understand the singing voice.
Today I work with adult singers online who want to explore their voice in a way that respects their body’s natural coordination and patterns.
If you'd like to explore this topic further, you may also find these helpful:
• My journey discovering I was tongue-tied and how it changed my singing
• Tongue-Tie Aware Vocal Coaching for Adult Singers
If you would like to work with a vocal coach who understands the complexities of having a tongue tie, a Discovery Call is a good place to start. During the call we can talk about your singing experience and whether we might be a good fit for your coaching journey.
