If after 1 year of life the baby is unable to protrude its tongue beyond its front teeth, it will probably interfere with the development of normal speech. Under these circumstances, the Paediatric Surgeon will recommend an operation to release the tongue. There are varying degrees of tongue-tie. As the vast majority are not severe, most do not require an operation. In some cases the parents, or the child, may request the operation to allow the child to fully poke out its tongue for social reasons! Apart from feeding difficulties, speech problems, tooth decay or difficulty in licking ice creams, in those children who have a severe tongue-tie, there are no associated complications and the prognosis following the release of tongue-tie is excellent.