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Tongue Tie
Tongue Tie- A medical condition?
When we say, “tongue tied,” most of us think of a situation when we are too excited to express ourselves verbally. Although that is not a medical condition, tongue tie is the name for a fairly common condition that limits the movement of the tongue - medically referred to as ankyloglossia.
Before we are born, a strong cord of tissue called the frenulum is positioned in the center of the mouth and guides the development of the oral cavity. As we grow and develop, it thins and recedes to a small thin piece of tissue that attaches the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In some children, the frenulum is especially tight or fails to recede and may cause difficulty with tongue movement. Ankyloglossia or tongue tie can cause eating or speaking difficulties in some children.
In infants, tongue tie can present with trouble sucking or poor weight gain. In breastfed infants, it can cause trouble with latching, or the mother may experience pain when the baby is nursing. Some mothers give up nursing because of tongue tie that is not recognized. In toddlers and older children, tongue tie can be a cause of trouble with speech articulation, especially consonant sounds. Signs that your child may have difficulty due to tongue tie include a V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue, inability to stick the tongue out past the gums, or simply difficulty licking an ice cream cone or lollipop.
Tongue tie can be repaired with a simple procedure that usually has no complications. In infants, it can be done in the office with local anesthesia. If you are concerned about your child having tongue tie, speak to your child’s physician and see an expert in Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat disorders.
Learn more about pediatric conditions...
SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat offers specialized care including board certified/fellowship-trained physicians/surgeons treating adult and pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders. Our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in Neptune, NJ allow us to expertly plan your medical and/or surgical care. Services include sinus surgery, Balloon Sinuplasty, minimally invasive skull base surgery, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, ear tubes, tracheal reconstruction, mastoidectomy, stapedectomy, thyroidectomy, parathyroid exploration, head and neck cancer surgery, parotidectomy, sleep apnea surgery, hearing tests, hearing aids, and VNG (videonystagmography).
COASTAL EAR, NOSE AND THROAT, LLC , 3700 Route 33 Suite 101, Neptune, NJ 07753 * Phone (732) 280-7855 * Fax (732) 280-7815