Ankyloglossia (aka, Tongue-Tie)

Also known as tongue-tie, ankyloglossia is a congenital condition characterized by the tongue’s constrained movement. As its name suggests, the tip of tongue is “tied” to the floor of the mouth by an uncommon short and thick lingual frenulum or tongue web which is normally a thin tissue that extends to the midline under the tongue. As a result, people with ankyloglossia have trouble moving their tongues which can cause feeding and speech difficulties. Some experts recommend immediate surgical treatment while other doctors would like to wait it out as the lingual frenulum may loosen after some time and some individuals with ankyloglossia do not report any problems. Also, others seek the help of speech therapists and lactation consultants.