Pediatric Providers Recommend Early Tongue-Tie Evaluation to Prevent Issues
New parents have a long list of things to watch to ensure their child is healthy and developing properly. More observations to add to the list: does the child’s tongue look different? Is breastfeeding difficult? If either answer is yes, the culprit may be ankyloglossia, commonly called tongue-tie. Sarah Shoemaker , APRN, a certified nurse midwife at OSF HealthCare, says kids may not be affected by the condition depending on the severity, but parents should consult with their health care team on a plan sooner than later. Shoemaker says tongue-tie occurs when the band of tissue between the bottom of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth (called the frenulum) is thicker, shorter, or covers a large portion of the tongue. This restricts the tongue’s movement. One study published by the National Institutes of Health found that tongue-tie impacts around 8% of newborns, and Shoemaker adds that it impacts boys more than girls. Experts, though, don’t know the exact cause.