Lingual Frenulum Assessment Protocol in Infants – The “Teste da Linguinha”: From Brazil to the World

The diagnosis of ankyloglossia in newborns and infants remains a subject of considerable international debate, particularly due to the diversity of assessment tools, diagnostic criteria, and clinical approaches adopted across different countries.

This presentation at the Tongue Time Congress – Switzerland will address the Brazilian experience with the “Teste da Linguinha” (Tongue-Tie Test), from the development and validation of the protocol to its incorporation into Brazilian legislation, which made lingual frenulum assessment mandatory for infants born in hospitals and maternity facilities throughout the country.

The presentation will discuss the principles of an assessment that considers both anatomical and functional aspects of the lingual frenulum, as well as the importance of objective criteria and standardized protocols as tools to support clinical diagnosis.

It will also establish a dialogue with other instruments used internationally for the assessment of the tongue and lingual frenulum, discussing their applications, differences, and limitations, as well as the challenges associated with both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis of ankyloglossia.

Based on the Brazilian experience and the available scientific evidence, the presentation aims to demonstrate how a protocol developed in Brazil can contribute to the international discussion on early diagnosis, standardization of assessment, and evidence-based clinical decision-making.