WHAT IS A TONGUE TIE?

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) happens when the string of tissue under your baby's tongue (frenulum), which attaches his/her tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short. If your baby has tongue-tie, his/her tongue can't move freely, and this can cause problems. If your baby has mild tongue-tie, it may not affect them. But if he/she has severe tongue-tie, his/her tongue may almost fuse to the bottom of the mouth. Doctors differ in the way they diagnose tongue-tie, especially in mild cases, so it's difficult to know how common it is. Some studies show that about four per cent of babies have tongue-tie, while others claim that it affects about 11 per cent.

Associated problems related to Tongue Tie

When a tongue tie is causing problems with breastfeeding, the baby often does not open his/her mouth widely, thus not latching on to the breast at the correct angle. Instead he/she may latch onto the nipple, and ‘gum’ or chew it, causing severe pain and eventually, nipple damage. There can be cracking, distortion, blanching or bleeding from the nipple, sometimes followed by infection or mastitis. Other symptoms include:

  • Difficult attachment onto the breast
  • Prolonged feeding times
  • Nipple pain or damage
  • Recurrent mastitis
  • Low weight gain
  • Clicking sounds made during feeding
  • Swallowing of air while feeding

Delayed development of speech may occur, while the tongue is remarkably able to compensate and many children have no speech impediments due to tongue-tie, others may. Speech problems, especially articulation of the sounds - l, r, t, d, n, th, sh, and z may be noticeable. Although, there is no obvious way to tell in infancy which children with ankyloglossia will have speech difficulties later, the following associated characteristics are common:

  • V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue
  • Inability to stick out the tongue past the upper gums
  • Inability to touch the roof of the mouth
  • Difficulty moving the tongue from side to side
  • Deterioration in speech
  • Behaviour problems
  • Loss of self confidence because they feel and sound ‘different’
  • Strong, incorrect habits of compensation being acquired

Opening the mouth widely enough to receive the spoon can be affected by a habit of inadequate mouth opening, the tongue may not protrude over the gum ridge, instead it will hump at the back of the mouth and push the food out rather than draw it in. Other symptoms include:

  • Inability to chew age appropriate solid foods
  • Gagging, choking or vomiting foods
  • Persisting food fads

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