JCPSLP Vol 23, Issue 1 2021

Table 1. Questions related to the decision-making process

Parents reporting re: child n (%)

Frequency n (%)

Adults reporting re: self n (%)

Age of tongue-tie release (years)

0–1

20 (50)

0 (0)

20 (66.7)

1–2

4 (10)

0 (0)

4 (13.3)

2–10

5 (12.5)

0 (0)

5 (16.7)

10–20

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

>20

11 (27.5)

10 (100)

1 (3.3)

Why did you have the tongue-tie released?

Feeding difficulties

21 (53.8)

0 (0)

21 (67.7)

Speech difficulties

5 (12.8)

1 (12.5)

4 (12.9)

Advised by health professional

2 (5.1)

0 (0)

2 (6.5)

Lip/cheek

2 (5.1)

0 (0)

2 (6.5)

Other

9 (23.1)

7 (87.5)

2 (6.5)

Any other factors that influenced the decision to have the tongue-tie released?

Differing opinions

2 (4.9)

0 (0)

2 (6.5)

Future intimacy

2 (4.9)

1 (10.0)

1 (3.2)

Dental concerns

9 (22.0)

4 (40.0)

5 (16.1)

Concerns regarding sleep/sleep patterns

4 (9.8)

0 (0)

4 (12.9)

Painful nipples

8 (19.5)

0 (0)

8 (25.8)

Tension/pain in neck

2 (4.9)

2 (20.0)

0 (0)

Speech development

3 (7.3)

0 (0)

3 (9.7)

Issues with reflux, weight gain or feeding

4 (9.8)

0 (0)

4 (12.9)

Combination of dental, sleep, and tension issues

4 (9.8)

3 (30.0)

1 (3.2)

Other

3 (7.3)

0 (0)

3 (9.7)

Which of these were considered when deciding to have tongue-tie released?

Infection

3 (7.3)

1 (10.0)

2 (6.5)

Stress on parent/caregiver

2 (4.9)

0 (0)

2 (6.5)

Stress on person with tongue-tie

4 (9.8)

0 (0)

4 (12.9)

Reattachment

21 (51.2)

7 (70)

14 (45.2)

Other

11 (26.8)

2 (20.0)

9 (29.0)

(70.7%) indicated that they were made aware of potential risks of having a tongue-tie released prior to making their decision. As indicated in Table 1, the potential of reattachment was the most frequently identified risk considered within the decision-making process ( n = 21; 51.2%). Eight of the 11 respondents who selected “other” for this item indicated that they had considered all of the listed factors when making the decision. All of the adults ( n = 10; 100%) and the majority of parents ( n = 25; 80.6%) reported that they were aware of post-care procedures prior to making the decision to have the tongue-tie released. Similarly, most participants ( n = 33; 80.5%)

sought additional information prior to making their decision, including nine (90%) of the adults who had their own tongue-tie released, and 24 (77%) of the parents who had their child’s tongue-tie released. Questions related to the experience of tongue-tie release Table 2 shows responses to questions related to the experience of having a tongue-tie released, by group. Dentists were most frequently identified as the professional who released the tongue-tie ( n = 28; 68.3%). Dental clinics and practitioners were named by two additional

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JCPSLP Volume 23, Number 1 2021

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology