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Parenting

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Original poster

Is there something wrong with my baby's tongue?!

38 replies

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:17

My DS is 14 months old. I have just realised that he has never stuck his tongue out....ever. He is usually really keen to copy everything and I have been sticking out my tongue at him since he was tiny.

Also if I offer him a lick of ice cream or something like that he can't or won't stick out his tongue.

I am worried he might be tongue tied or something, although I did breastfeed him until he was 13 month so I would have thought this might have be a problem if he was tongue tied.

I'm really worried now and concerned that he this might be affecting the sounds he makes, or doesn't make, he is not very chatty!

Anyone experienced this or able to put my mind to rest??

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ThePieSmuggler · 14/08/2012 21:19

Can't help with any direct experience but there is a website called the analytical armadillo that's run by a lactation specialist who specialises in (or at least has a lot of experience with) tongue ties, hopefully you'll get more info there

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:23

Great thank you thePie I'll look now

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thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 21:30

there are things you can look for with regard to tongue tie. if the tie was so bad that he literally couldn't stick his tongue out then it's likely that you'd be able to see it by looking under his tongue.

also you may not remember, and not sure if he'd still do it, but when ds2 was a little baby when he cried his tongue would barely lift up... after he had his tongue tie snipped when he cried his tongue would go up to the roof of his mouth.

and when he stuck it out a little way he had (still has a bit) the classic heart-shaped tip of the tongue that babies with tongue tie have

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Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:36

thisis He doesn't have the heart shape, but I am pretty sure that his tongue doesn't lift up much.

When did your DS2 have him tongue tie snipped? How did it get done? (Please excuse my ignorance!)

I feel terrible for only now realising something might be wrong.

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DollyTwat · 14/08/2012 21:41

My ds2 had tongue tie and I didn't notice it my friend did.
They snipped it as soon as he was 1 old enough for a general anaesthetic. It was quick and he was absolutely fine after.

But my dr didn't want to do it, said we should wait to see if he had a speech impediment when he was older so I went privately as I had insurance.

If it needs doing get it done, better to do before they start talking
Pm me if you want more details but it's fine honestly

thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 21:46

He had it snipped at 3 weeks, but only because it was causing feeding problems.

we saw Clare Meynell at St. Richards in Chichester and she said they only snip now if it's causing feeding problems because there is not enough evidence of it causing speech problems

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:48

thisis so they only snip if there is speech problems? That seems so odd.

DS never really had feeding problems, although he did have reflux which I have seen on a website might be linked to a tongue tie.

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thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 21:48

k i am no expert, I only know what I have read online about it, but I would have thought that if it was tied enough that he couldn't really lift it up then you'd also see the heart-shape- because that appears when the tip of the tongue is being pulled back because of the tie

i would see if you can have a good look in his mouth tomorrow if he'll let you.

mawbroon · 14/08/2012 21:49

There is such a huge range of different experiences with tongue ties. Some with tongue tie can breastfeed just fine.

Some tongue ties are obvious to look at (heart shaped tongue for example) and others can only be spotted by an expert.

Where in the country are you? There is a clinic in Huddersfield which lasers tongue and lip ties, no GA needed.

There is also a facebook group which you could join.

Does he have any other problems which are often associated with tongue tie? Gut problems? Allergies? for example.

thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 21:49

and yes, round here they will only snip if it's causing difficulties feeding.
she just said that there is no real evidence of a link between tongue tie and speech problems.

i think in your case as well that given the age of your son he would have to have a GA in order to snip it, in which case you may prefer to wait and see if it causes a problem before doing that as it is potentially an unnecessary op?

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:51

Unfortunately I am away all day at work tomorrow and Thursday so won't see him until Thursday night so I am just going to worry and worry and stress until then!

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thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 21:51

does he have any difficulty eating or chewing? does he dribble a lot? those can both be indicators of a tongue tie as well

Jodidi · 14/08/2012 21:53

My brother and I are both tongue tied and it has never caused either of us any problems at all. The only very minor issue we've had is that we had some mild teasing about not being able to stick our tongues out when we were at school.

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:54

mawbroon I am in the North West.
He did have reflux when he was small and we gave him gaviscon. He is very windy, but I haven't noticed anything else. I do feel particularly ignorance about this.
What else should I look out for?

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Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 21:59

thisis - no problems eating or chewing that I have noticed - he's a pretty good eater.

Jodidi - that's good to know!

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thisisyesterday · 14/08/2012 22:00

oh and i should have said, ds1 was also tongue tied, and also had trouble feeding, but i didn't realise until after i'd stopped breastfeeding him so never had it snipped.

he is 7 now and hasn't had any speech issues.

i am also tongue tied and haven't had any probs either apart from i can't stick my tongue out very far

(clearly this is just anecdotal)

mawbroon · 14/08/2012 22:05

High palate (and related dental problems, though too early to tell in your ds)
Allergies and intolerances
Sleep issues/snoring
Speech problems
Trouble with solids at weaning, gagging or choking

to name but a few.

DS1 had undiagnosed tongue tie which we only discovered when he was 6yo. He had his done in January to help with reflux and bloating. It wasn't released properly, although it was released enough to help with his gastric problems, so he will need it done again and will need his palate expanded to avoid extensive orthodontic work when he is a teen.

kilmuir · 14/08/2012 22:09

My DS (4) was found not to be able to lift his tongue to top of his mouth or stick his tongue out when he was referred to a speech therapist.
not tongue tied and had no problems breast feeding.

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 22:35

kilmuir What was the solution for your DS? Did speech therapy work?
Were you given a reason why he could stick out tongue/lift it up? Goodness sorry to ask all these questions!

mawbroon how will I recognise a high palate?

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JollyHockeyStick · 14/08/2012 22:39

Milk, my DS is 16 months and only learned to stick his tongue out recently. He literally never did it. He just didn't get how. I don't think he has tongue tie, it was just something he didn't know how to do. He does it fairly often now :)

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 22:43

Jolly that is really nice to hear! Maybe it is that, I think I have now convinced myself that she is tongue tied!
Did your DS lift his tongue up? My DS doesn't really ever lift his tongue up - does that make sense?!

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kilmuir · 14/08/2012 22:50

i was embarrassed that I had never noticed he could not do these things!
we were given oromotor exercises. speech therapist said it was like any muscle and needed working on.
exercises were licking ice creams, using a straw, blowing bubbles, making OOOO and ahhhh sounds, trying to stick tongue out to touch nose, both sides of mouth and chin. moving tongue around his teeth etc.
think there is a book/leaflet called Mr tongue

ThisOnce · 14/08/2012 22:55

If you sort of swipe your finger under his tongue can you feel the frenulum? Does it feel quite tight? It's one way to tell.

I probably wouldn't do anything at this stage if no issues But some things it affects are simple actios like licking sugar or food off your mouth, also can be hygiene problems in th case of being able to move food around your mouth (getting stuck food away from front teeth and lips).

Halfling · 14/08/2012 22:57

My DS was born tongue tied. We got it snipped when he was 1.5 years old. Was a very minor operation but he had to be sedated nevertheless.

I noticed it in the same way, i.e. he never lifted his tongue up. ENT specialist said that the sooner it is operated the better it is for speech, breast feeding etc.

I noticed a remarkable difference post surgery and for the first time ever, DS managed to breast feed for more than 5 minutes in one go. Otherwise he used to get too tired and his latch used to slip all the time.

Original poster

milkovermayhem · 14/08/2012 23:13

Halfling sounds like a very positive result for your DS. Before the op how was your DS's speech? Know that I am thinking through everything I don't think he makes a weide variety of noises compared to other babies his age. I had just put this down to normal differences, but maybe the tongue tie is holding him back.

I notice that everyone is saying DS - I wonder if it is more common in boys?

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