Comparison Between Two Protocols for Ankyloglossia Diagnosis in Newborn Babies

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neonatal Care
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Ankyloglossia, a congenital condition restricting tongue movement, can impact breastfeeding.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention.
• Existing diagnostic protocols require comparative analysis for clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic efficacy of the Neonatal Tongue Screening Test (NTST) and the Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool (BTAT) for ankyloglossia.
• To evaluate the agreement and accuracy of these two protocols in a live birth cohort.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 972 mother-baby dyads at the University Hospital of Brasilia.
• Data collection through clinical examinations and maternal interviews.
• Statistical analysis included chi-square test, Spearman's correlation, ROC curve analysis, sensitivity, and specificity.

Main Results:

• Both NTST and BTAT showed agreement in ankyloglossia diagnosis (P ≤ 0.001).
• Prevalence rates were similar: 5.5% (NTST) and 5.1% (BTAT), higher in males.
• BTAT demonstrated higher accuracy, sensitivity (98.4%), and specificity (64.2%) compared to NTST.

Conclusions:

• Both NTST and BTAT identified a low prevalence of ankyloglossia.
• The Bristol Tongue Assessment Tool (BTAT) is recommended as a more viable and concise screening instrument for ankyloglossia compared to the NTST.