OMG! I am a special ed teacher and I was told some of the same things. i did not have to have a tongue flap. but was told my speech would be greatly affected. I do notice slight lisp, but my newer students do not notice anything about my speech, because they did not know what it was like before. I also notice there are some words I have to be slow and calculated at saying, but I can tell you I am still teaching to this day. it is nice when we are still doing things that the Drs say we might not be able to continue doing. My ENT even told he was afraid I would ne be able to talk well enough to teach and can not believe I am talking so well. I have to work at it. If I get lazy then many of my words do not come out clearly.