Is having the tongue clipped trendy? Or are there actual medical implications surrounding tongue ties? In a month when I am slammed with new babies, this is THE question I get asked every day. As an RMT/CST, I can treat a tie, release the tissue, do oral work to get the tongue and tissue to start functioning by releasing the nerves that are entrapped, but my scope is limited to treating but unauthorized to diagnose a tie. Referring out to lactation consultants, pediatrician, pediatric dentist are my go to people.
My education in Ankyloglossia was taught through Upledger Institute for infants, adolescents and adults. Many days of learning from OT's, PT's, Medical doctors, and Speech Pathologists who see, clip and teach on this subject. What I've learned from my courses in Ankyloglossia, is that even with high levels of education, seeing trends but do not have enough learning on this subject is very common, and unless someone has professional interest in their field of study surrounding this little pride of tissue, we leave it to a select few professionals.
Let me break down as many as I can for you to understand why this is a big deal so you can find people in your area that can diagnose a tie (lactation consultant, pediatric feeding specialist - OT, PT, Dentist, Speech Pathologist or Paediatrician) and have treatments (Chiro, PT, OT, or CST).
The frenulum is a piece of tissue that develops in utero at 4.5 weeks. It is one of the very first pieces of tissue that anchors, grows with and along the midline of the tongue, bringing nerve supply and fuses to the underside of the tongue; this midline tissue anchors into the diaphragm and the pelvic floor. Fascia connects EVERYTHING. From surrounding muscles, ligaments, tendon and bones, to nerves and organs - all tissue.
What we see is a HUGE connection between the communication with functioning structures as one will be a little tether to the floor of the mouth that is often just assessed for feeding issues. But can be a much broader, full body issue.
Associated Problems Seen in Children with Unresolved Tongue Tie:
Gastrointestinal problems: reflux, excessive gas, IBS (constipation),
Picky eaters: includes food avoidance- even in babies, swallowing and lateralization (one sided chewing), poor chewing,
Neck tension, headaches, plagiocephaly,
Poor cervical (neck) range of motion presenting as torticollis,
Anterior pelvic tilt that impacts symmetry of neck and trunk muscles- scoliosis
Pelvic floor issues: urinary incontinence, encopresis (fecal incontinence),
Speech issues: tongue movement, ability to articulate, lip closure for removing food from spoon,
Psycho-Social Issues: high anxiety (maintained stress response from the sympathetic nervous system), irritability in babies, ADD, ADHD, depression, and low self esteem,
Sleep Issues: snoring, sleep apnea, mouth breathing, chronic open mouth posture (increased nasal airway resistence), deviated nasal septum, impaired sinuses,
Dental: cavities, high narrow palate (need for palate expanders a/o orthodontics, teeth grinding, and TMJ, gap between teeth, and difficulty brushing front teeth,
Delayed gross motor skills: the abilities required to control the muscles of the body for large movements such as crawling, walking, jumping, running, and more,
Delayed fine motor skills: coordination between your child's small muscles, like those in their hands, wrists, and fingers in coordination with their eyes,
Sensory motor concerns: those we use to take in information about the world through our senses and to develop our body's movement, or motor, response to that information.
That's a pretty heavy list, and the reality of this is that so few parents know of any of that, other than being told its a tongue tie. The decision to clip or not to clip is a decision parents have to make and by choosing to not clip, please understand that we will NEVER fully know that future diagnosis will have anything to do with your tongue and that is simply because adults do not generally get it assessed as an adult, and adults do not seek out having their tongue clipped. So if you wonder, do your homework, read through my list again, talk to your paediatrician, talk to your dentist, seek out professionals who work with kids and ask questions and you will find their impression will vary; the decision is ultimately yours.
Our general population doesn't understand the complexities of it, although if we look at what is happening in our society today, looking at classrooms and needs in classrooms; the babies I see have their tongue clipped 75% of the time, which opens another conversation that I wonder often if we clip a tongue in the 2020's will we see LESS classroom needs in the future? Will we have less anxiety, depression in our population? Will we see less need for OT, PT in early education? Will there be less need for speech language? Generally I would think not but as my practice dictates a huge percentage of clipped tongues, my mind is always wondering how this group will do in school and into adolescence and if the tongue being clipped will make a difference vs those who are highly functioning adults and still have a tie.
As with anything you can overcome many of the above listed items with time, effort and dedication to treatments including body work makes improvements to connected structures, which includes the nervous system.
To learn more about tongue ties
Facebook Support Groups:
Adults with Tie: www.facebook.com/groups/917969521551849 / www.facebook.com/groups/149439564165999
Babies: www.facebook.com/TongueTieBabies
Comments