Development of a Tongue-Tie Case Definition (TTCD) in Newborns using a Delphi Survey: the NYU-TTCD

Publication date: Available online 17 January 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Ralph V. Katz, Bianca A. Dearing, James M. Ryan, Lisa K. Ryan, Malik K. Zubi, Gurpreet K. Sokhal

Abstract

Objective

The primary purpose of this study was to develop an operational definition of the oral condition of ankyloglossia (aka: tongue-tie) in newborns (i.e., birth-6 months) that could consistently be used in research studies.

Study Design

This 4-round Delphi survey developed the consensus NYU - Tongue-Tie Case Definition (NYU-TTCD) using a panel of ankyloglossia treatment experts.

Results

This Tongue-Tie Case Definition was carefully and step-wise created from the bottom up by expert panelists over 4 rounds of inquiry. As a functioning case definition, it offers the diagnostician two separate pathways to identifying a newborn as being tongue-tied. One pathway requires but a single pathognomonic anatomic feature while the other pathway requires a single functional deficit accompanied by at least two of 12 other diagnostic items (either functional, anatomic or behavioral).

Conclusions

This Delphi survey, as administered to a panel of ankyloglossia treatment experts, produced the first consensus case definition of tongue-tie for newborns, i.e., birth-6 months for use in epidemiological research studies ranging from descriptive prevalence studies to clinical trials. Next step studies should establish the validity, reliability and utility of this novel NYU-TTCD case definition for epidemiologic and clinical purposes.

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