Letter to the Editor regarding N. Sethi, et al., Benefits of frenulotomy in infants with ankyloglossia, IJPO (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.02.005

摘要

As a lactation consultant and a founding member of the International Affiliation of Tongue-tie Professionals (IATP), I read this article with great interest. For many years the impact of ankyloglossia has been overlooked, and it is gratifying to see that pediatric ENTs are now acknowledging and treating this condition.There are two issues that bear further discussion. First, the authors commented upon the variation in reported prevalence, noting that it seems to be due to lack of uniformity in definition and grading. I completely agree with this, and the sooner we have an accepted definition of the problem, the better our data will become. After much discussion, the IATP reached a consensus on this definition: "An embryological remnant of tissue in the midline between the undersurface of the tongue and the floor of the mouth that restricts normal tongue movement." This statement is deliberately broad and emphasizes function over appearance. We have discovered that tongue-ties occur in a continuum with several variations, some of which are not obvious to the untrained eye. Tongue mobility restriction can affect anterior (tongue-tip) movement and/or posterior (tongue body) movement, with differing results.