As the formations in the mouth are completed before birth, the tongue, which was initially attached to the floor of the mouth, becomes free from the floor of the mouth and becomes mobile, and is attached to the floor of the mouth with a ligament called frenulum. As a result of the disorder that occurs during this period, the frenulum that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth cannot be fully released or becomes thick, preventing the tongue from being released. This condition is called Ankyloglossia (Tongue Tie, Hypertrophic Frenulum Linguale or Short Frenulum).
There are two groups of patients that we frequently encounter: One of them is newborn babies and the other is children who cannot speak.
Newborn. Families often understand that babies have tongue tie due to sucking problems. Inability to gain weight and developmental delay may be observed during this period.
In children who cannot speak, it is wrongly believed that the speech problem is due to tongue tie. However, tongue tie only causes impaired speech and articulation disorders, that is, a child who does not speak may have a tongue tie, but it is not the reason for not speaking. Other reasons must be investigated in such patients.
The functions of the tongue will be affected in a child with a tongue tie. Speech and articulation disorders, sucking problems, tongue deformity, and as a result of all these, psychological and social problems may be observed.
During the examination, tongue tie can be seen with the help of a tongue depressor. The tongue has taken a "V" shape. The child with tongue tie is asked to make movements such as sticking out the tongue, lifting it up and touching the palate. The diagnosis is confirmed when the patient cannot do these things fully. In the evaluation of articulation disorder, especially after the age of 3, the patient is asked to produce sounds in which the front part of the tongue is actively used, such as "l, r, s, t, z", and the patient has difficulty in making these sounds. It would be beneficial to see a pediatric surgeon.
Tongue Tie Surgery is recommended to be performed "as soon as possible" in order to avoid problems, especially during the periods of sucking and learning to speak.
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