Content
The tongue test is a mandatory exam that serves to diagnose and indicate the early treatment of problems with the tongue brake of newborns, which can impair breastfeeding or compromise the act of swallowing, chewing and speaking, which is the case of ankyloglossia , also known as a stuck tongue.
The tongue test is performed in the first days of the baby's life, usually in the maternity ward. This test is simple and does not cause pain, because the speech therapist only lifts the baby's tongue to analyze the tongue brake, which can also be called a tongue frenulum.
What is it for
The tongue test is performed on newborns to detect changes in the tongue brake, such as the stuck tongue, scientifically called ankyloglossia. This change is very common and occurs when the membrane that holds the tongue at the bottom of the mouth is too short, making it difficult for the tongue to move.
In addition, the tongue test is done to assess the thickness and how the tongue brake is fixed, in addition to analyzing how the baby moves the tongue and if it is difficult to suck breast milk. Here's how to know if your baby has a stuck tongue.
Thus, it is important that the tongue test is done as soon as possible, preferably in the first months of the baby's life, as this way it is possible to identify changes in the tongue brake as soon as possible to avoid consequences such as difficulties in breastfeeding or eating solid foods, changes in tooth structure and speech.
How is done
The tongue test is done by the speech therapist based on the observation of the movement of the tongue and the way the brake is fixed. This observation is often made when the baby is crying or during breastfeeding, since some changes in the tongue can make it difficult for the baby to catch on the mother's breast.
Thus, when verifying the movements of the tongue and the shape of the brake, the speech therapist fills out a protocol that contains some characteristics that should be scored during the exam and, at the end, identifies whether or not there are changes.
If it is verified in the tongue test that there are changes, the speech therapist and pediatrician can indicate the beginning of appropriate treatment, and, according to the identified change, it is recommended to perform a small procedure to release the membrane stuck under the tongue. .
Importance of treatment
The stuck tongue limits the movements of the tongue during sucking and swallowing, which can lead to early weaning. In the introduction of solid baby food, babies with tongue stuck may have difficulty swallowing and even suffer choking.
Thus, early identification and treatment can reduce the negative consequences on the oral development of children from zero to two years of age who were born with a very short tongue brake. When corrected in time, treatment can prevent disorders at different stages of children's oral development.