The Impact of Untreated Ankyloglossia on Feeding, Speech and the Psychosocial Domain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chirag C Sheth, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain

Abstract
Objectives: (1) To investigate and highlight the impact of untreated AG on feeding, speech and the psychosocial domain in children between 0-15 years. (2) determine surgical outcomes of corrective AG procedures and their influence on feeding, speech and the psychosocial domain (3) highlight AG as an important myofunctional and psychosocial disorder, (4) encourage further collaborative research from healthcare professionals.
Methods: The Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, EBSCO, NCBI and MEDLINE databases were searched, and a meta‐analysis was conducted. Positive AG treatment outcomes over the past 33 years were also presented.
Results: Feeding Affectations: 49.76% of individuals received corrective AG surgery and 50.24% did not. Calculated risk ratio (RR) was 0.81 with a 95 % CI of 0.45 - 0.90. The GRADE quality assessment of evidence was “LOW”.
Speech Affectations: 60.20%of individuals never had corrective AG surgery whereas 39.80% did. Calculated risk ratio (RR) was 0.92 with a 95 % CI of 0.59 - 0.98 The GRADE quality assessment of evidence was “LOW”.
The Psychosocial Domain Affectations: Data availability was very limited and there was little acknowledgment of this topic from the included articles. Consequently, the quality of presented evidence was “LOW” as per the GRADE system.
Conclusions: Data depicting a significant link between AG and its level of influence over these issues between 0–15 year-olds is scarce, and our results were inconclusive. AG management requires more effective interdisciplinary communication to aid clinical decision making and further investigation is necessary.

Keywords
Meta-analysis; Ankyloglossia, Feeding, Speech, Psychosocial Domain, Surgical Outcomes

Cite this paper
Fariah I Gaba, Chirag C Sheth, The Impact of Untreated Ankyloglossia on Feeding, Speech and the Psychosocial Domain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis , SCIREA Journal of Clinical Medicine. Volume 8, Issue 4, August 2023 | PP. 306-340. 10.54647/cm321144

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