12/22/2025
💜 well stated.
The history of assessing and managing tongue ties has evolved significantly over time. In ancient times, midwives recognized the potential impact of tongue ties on breastfeeding, and some would manually snip the tight frenulum to improve an infant’s ability to nurse. This practice, though not widely documented, suggests an early awareness of the issue, particularly in relation to feeding. Throughout the Middle Ages and into the 19th century, there were sporadic accounts of physicians and midwives performing similar procedures, but there was little consensus on its importance
By the early 20th century, as bottle-feeding became more common, the issue of tongue ties was largely overlooked. With fewer babies breastfeeding, the need to address oral restrictions in newborns diminished, and tongue-tie treatment became a less frequently discussed medical concern. When cases were recognized, they were often only addressed if they caused obvious problems with speech or severe feeding difficulties, and treatments varied greatly depending on the practitioner
It wasn’t until the mid to late 20th century that tongue ties gained renewed attention, particularly in the realm of speech development. Concerns emerged about the possible role of restricted tongue movement in speech delays or articulation issues, and more research began to surface. However, even then, many cases of tongue tie were either underdiagnosed or not treated unless the condition was severe
In the early 2000s, the rise of breastfeeding advocacy and lactation consulting brought tongue ties back into focus. With more emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding, practitioners began to reassess the impact of tongue restrictions on nursing success. Lactation consultants and other professionals specializing in infant feeding played a key role in advocating for earlier recognition and treatment. Today emerging research helps us understand that ties can impact more than just speech. New awareness means better diagnosis and treatment
