What is tongue tie?

It is a condition known medically as ankyloglossia and occurs when the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth – the lingual frenulum – is shorter or tighter than normal. This hampers the mobility of the tongue.

How will that affect the baby?

It may cause feeding problems, particularly at the breast, but also sometimes by bottle. However, it is estimated that the majority of infants with ankyloglossia will breastfeed successfully, according to a report on the assessment and management of the condition that was issued jointly by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and the HSE earlier this year. There is no need for intervention, it says, if there are no breastfeeding difficulties or symptoms.

How common is it?

The overall prevalence is debatable, but it is more common in boys than girls. It is found in “up to one in 10” newborns, according to the private National Tongue Tie Centre, based in Knocklofty, outside Clonmel, Co Tipperary. A wide variation in reported rates, from as low as 0.1 per cent to as high as 10.7 per cent, stems primarily from the absence of universally accepted diagnostic criteria, says Kate Roche, the centre’s clinical director.

Multiple clinical and cultural factors are driving up diagnosis, referrals and intervention worldwide, according to the RCPI/HSE report. These include an increase in awareness among the public and healthcare professionals of tongue tie as a potential contributor to breastfeeding difficulties.

What are the indications?

When a baby is yawning or crying, it may be possible to spot signs such as the tongue not lifting or moving from side to side.