A guide through the confusion and challenges surrounding infant tongue-tie.

An authoritative, friendly and accessible look at the debate on infant feeding, offering parents and health professionals evidence-based information on why breastfeeding matters.

In this first-of-its-kind, comprehensive book Tongue-Tied, Dr. Richard Baxter and a multidisciplinary team of specialists unpack the many ways tongue-ties affect infants, children, and adults. They present a balanced approach to the treatments that correct oral restrictions; treatments that create a better quality of life for patients and families.

Chances are, you or someone you know is affected by a tongue-tie. Common, yet little understood, tongue-ties can lead to a myriad of problems, including difficulty when nursing, speaking or eating. In the most crucial and formative parts of children’s lives, tongue-ties have a significant effect on their well-being. Many parents and professionals alike want to know what can be done, and how best to treat these patients and families. And now, there are answers. Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Feeding, Speech, and More is an exhaustive and informative guide to this misunderstood affliction. Along with a team of medical specialists, author Dr. Richard Baxter demystifies tongue-ties and spells out how this condition can be treated comprehensively, safely and comfortably. Starting with a broad history of tongue-ties, this invaluable guide covers 21st-century assessment techniques and treatment options available for tethered oral tissues. Various accounts of patient challenges and victories are prominently featured as well. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, tethered oral tissues can be released with minimal discomfort, resulting in lives free of struggles during nursing, speaking, and feeding, while also reducing the incidence of dental issues, headaches, and even neck pain for children through adults. Aimed at both parents and professionals, Tongue-Tied encourages those affected while providing reassuring and valuable information. Dr. Baxter and his qualified team have pooled their expertise to make a difference in the lives of people. No longer will young patients and their parents suffer without answers.

Tongue-tie has become one of the most controversial topics in lactation. There are loud, noisy arguments on social media. Unfortunately, mothers, babies, and the IBCLCs who want to help are caught in the crossfire. How should tongue-tie be identified and treated? Do posterior ties exist? Are there alternatives to surgery? These are some of the issues lactation consultants face, as well as Scope of Practice issues and what their role should be in identifying and treating tongue-tie. This monograph features an expert roundtable answering these important questions. We assembled a panel of experts on tongue-tie who represented a wide range of disciplines including pediatrics, family medicine, dentistry, mental health, speech and language, and lactation. Members of this panel do not always agree, but the discourse is respectful and represents the state of the art in this field.