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.
This test is carried out by speech therapists in the first days of the baby's life and, generally, it is carried out in the maternity ward, however, it can be done in health centers that have this professional.
The tongue test does not cause pain to the child, because when it is performed, the speech therapist will only lift the baby's tongue to analyze the tongue brake, which can also be called the tongue frenulum.
What is it for
The tongue test is performed on newborns to detect changes in the tongue brake, such as the tongue stuck. This change is very common and occurs when the skin that holds the tongue at the bottom of the mouth is too short, making it difficult for the tongue to move.
This test is applied by speech therapists who will assess the thickness and how the tongue is fixed, in addition to analyzing how the baby moves the tongue and presents difficulties in sucking breast milk. However, if the test was not done at the maternity hospital, it can be done at a health center and parents can also see if the baby has a stuck tongue. Here's how to know if the baby has the tongue.
How is done
During the tongue test, the speech therapist identifies if the baby has a tongue stuck watching the child when he is crying and sucking the mother's breast. When verifying the movements of the tongue and the shape of the tongue, the speech therapist fills out a document, called a protocol, which works as a test in which scores are given according to the symptoms, and in the end, according to the total scores is possible to know the type of alteration of the tongue brake.
If it is found that the baby has a stuck tongue, the speech therapist will inform the pediatrician so that the best treatment is recommended, which usually consists of a small surgery to free the stuck skin under the tongue. And yet, there are no contraindications for the test and it can be done with the baby on the mother's lap or lying in the crib, as long as the professional is able to observe the tongue brake.
Why it should be done
The tongue test should be done as soon as possible, preferably in the first months of the baby's life, as it is possible to identify changes in the tongue brake as soon as possible and the pediatrician can already indicate the most appropriate treatment.
In addition, if the tongue brake is discovered early, it is possible to prevent breastfeeding difficulties, which cause the baby to lose weight and need to use the bottle. It also prevents other problems from arising when the child grows, such as difficulties in eating solid foods, problems in the structure of the teeth and difficulties in speaking, changing the letters l, r, s, n and z.
