What's happened
The American Academy of Pediatrics has raised concerns about the overdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical treatment of tongue-tie in infants. The report suggests that many surgeries performed to address breastfeeding difficulties may not be needed, with estimates indicating over 100,000 procedures annually in the U.S. Experts advocate for considering nonsurgical options and emphasize the importance of proper evaluation before proceeding with surgery.
Why it matters
This report is significant as it challenges the current practices surrounding tongue-tie treatments, which have seen a dramatic increase in recent years. With many parents seeking quick solutions for breastfeeding challenges, the findings could lead to a reevaluation of treatment protocols, potentially reducing unnecessary surgeries and associated costs. This could also impact healthcare practices and parental decisions regarding infant care.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights that the report indicates tongue-tie releases should only be performed on a small fraction of infants with severe cases, emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting widespread procedures. Dr. Jennifer Thomas, a co-author of the report, noted that parents are often paying high out-of-pocket costs for unnecessary treatments. In contrast, The Independent reports that the increase in diagnoses and surgeries has occurred without uniform diagnostic criteria, leading to a call for better evaluation practices among healthcare professionals.
How we got here
The rise in tongue-tie diagnoses and subsequent surgeries has been noted over the past few decades, with a reported 800% increase in procedures from 1997 to 2012. This surge has prompted pediatricians to investigate the necessity and efficacy of such treatments. The American Academy of Pediatrics began working on this report in 2015, responding to concerns from pediatricians about the growing trend of parents seeking surgical interventions from dentists for their infants.
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What Are the New Concerns About Tongue-Tie Surgery for Infants?
Recent reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics have raised significant concerns regarding the overdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical treatments for tongue-tie in infants. With many parents seeking quick solutions for breastfeeding challenges, it's crucial to understand the implications of these findings and explore alternative options.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an American professional association of pediatricians, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. It maintains its Department of Federal Affairs office in Washington, D.C.