Tongue Tie

Tongue tie is a congenital deformity, which means it exists at or before birth. It happens when the string-like tissue attaching the tongue to the mouth is very short, preventing the tongue from moving freely. This disorder may vary from being mild (a slight, unnoticeable deformity that does not interfere much with tongue movement) to severe, in which case the tongue may fuse to the bottom of the mouth.

Babies born with tongue tie have difficulty latching on and feeding, and it also affects their speech later on. Difficulties in feeding prevents normal weight gain, while for toddlers and older children, misalignment of teeth besides speech problems could also be one of the consequences of tongue tie.

When to seek expert advise

You must have your child evaluated if there are problems feeding and latching on and weight gain seems insufficient or lower than expected. A child who is having speech difficulties must also be assessed for the possibility of tongue tie. Any other complaints of the above-mentioned symptoms from your child must not be ignored and should be checked by a doctor.

At The Aga Khan University Hospital, the only internationally accredited hospital of Pakistan, you can discuss your child’s symptoms and any other concerns in complete confidence with an ENT specialist working for the Eye and ENT Service Line. Your doctor will prescribe the most suitable treatment option for your child, based on the symptoms exhibited and the severity of tongue tie.