title: The development of a tongue assessment tool to assist with tongue-tie identification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To produce a simple tool with good transferability to provide a consistent assessment of tongue appearance and function in infants with tongue-tie.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool (BTAT) was developed based on clinical practice and with reference to the Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (ATLFF). This paper documents 224 tongue assessments using the BTAT. There were 126 tongue assessments recorded using the BTAT and ATLFF tools to facilitate comparisons between them. Paired BTAT assessments were obtained from eight midwives who were using the new assessment tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was acceptable internal reliability for the four-item BTAT (Cronbach's α=0.708) and the eight midwives who used it showed good correlation in the consistency of its use (ICC=0.760). The BTAT showed a strong and significant correlation (0.89) with the ATLFF, indicating that the simpler BTAT could be used in place of the more detailed assessment tool to score the extent of a tongue-tie. Midwives found it quick and easy to use and felt that it would be easy to teach to others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BTAT provides an objective, clear and simple measure of the severity of a tongue-tie, to inform selection of infants for frenotomy and to monitor the effect of the procedure.
authors: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Ingram
authors: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Debbie
authors: D
authors: Johnson
authors: Midwifery, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Copeland
authors: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors: Cathy
authors: C
authors: Churchill
authors: R&I, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors: Hazel
authors: H
authors: Taylor
authors: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Emond
mesh_terms: D000072676:Ankyloglossia; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008035:Lingual Frenum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: breastfeeding; frenotomy