Tongue tie (tongue frenulum), which restricts tongue movements, is frequently seen in children. Although this condition, which is seen in about 3% of children, does not cause any problems in some cases, it can sometimes cause feeding and speech problems.
How does it develop?
During the development of the baby in the womb, the tongue develops adherent to the floor of the mouth, and in time it separates from the floor of the mouth and takes its normal, free state. Due to some disruptions during development, this separation is not complete and the tongue may continue to be attached to the floor of the mouth with the help of a ligament. This condition is called tongue tie, tongue frenulum, ankyloglossia.
How is it diagnosed?
Tongue tie is any symptom If it does not show, it may be diagnosed incidentally by the family or during the routine control of the doctor. If there is a suspicion of malnutrition or difficulties in speech (not being able to say some letters), a diagnosis can be made in the examination of the Pediatric Surgeon.
What problems can it cause?
Although tongue-tie is asymptomatic in some cases, It can cause feeding and speech disorders. Tongue tie, which does not cause problems in the newborn period, may cause the child to not be able to say some letters during the speaking period.
Babies with tongue-tie, which restricts tongue movements in the newborn period, cannot grasp the nipple easily and get tired quickly when sucking. This can cause many to be undernourished and starve. Apart from this, children who cannot suck properly try to suck on their mother's nipple by biting. By this time, undesirable conditions such as painful cracks on the nipple and mastitis may develop afterwards.
The presence of tongue tie in children in the speaking period restricts tongue movements. It causes speech disorder and inability to pronounce letters ('d', 'n', 't') in which tongue movements are important in pronunciation. This may adversely affect the developing child's psychology.
In more serious tongue ties, the forked tongue tip and the inability to get the tongue out of the mouth can also affect the psychology of children.
Apart from this, since the tongue is an important organ for oral hygiene, restrictions in its movements can cause bad breath and dental caries in the future.
How is it treated?
The treatment of tongue tie is always surgical cutting of this tie. In the neonatal period, there are those who recommend cutting this ligament with scissors in the outpatient clinic, since it can be membranous and non-vascular. However, despite the risk of bleeding, infection and pain, it would be more appropriate to cut it with mild sedation and a short procedure in the operating room with the help of cautery. It is recommended to cut very thick tongue ties with the sedation method under operating room conditions and to stitch them if necessary. Afterwards, the child is fed immediately and discharged home.
In some cases, feeding problems in the newborn period, speech disorders in childhood may not be related to tongue-tie. For this reason, a pediatrician's examination is required to investigate the conditions that may cause malnutrition, and a logoped examination is required for those with speech disorders.
Read: 0
