PRICE LIST:

$250 = Registration / With Practicum 3806

$292 = Registration + Textbook 2598 / With Practicum 3806

PRICE LIST:

$250 = Registration / With Practicum 3804

$292 = Registration + Textbook 2598 / With Practicum 3804

PRICE LIST:

$450 = Registration / With Day 1 Practicum 3806 & Day 2 Practicum 3804

$492 = Registration + Book / With Day 1 Practicum 3806 & Day 2 Practicum 3804

LEARN MORE ABOUT PRACTICUM HERE.

Tethered Oral Tissue(s) or TOTs is a topic that has been more frequently discussed in the fields of lactation, speech pathology, oral surgery, orofacial myology, and otolaryngology. Organizations such as the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) and the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) have been highlighting this diagnosis and implications for therapy and surgery. There are three forms of TOTs: buccal, labial, and lingual. Lingual TOTs is most commonly known as “tongue-tie” or “ankyloglossia”. The Mayo clinic in 2016 indicated that tongue-tie can affect the way a child eats, speaks and swallows, and can interfere with breastfeeding.

One of the driving factors in the increased interest in TOTs stems from current research linking sleep apnea to a short lingual frenulum, in addition to the increase awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. With this topic comes some controversy, and speech pathologists are often left confused in their own role of diagnosing and treating TOTs.

This course explores the functional assessment of TOTs and reviews current well-respected assessment tools which describe structure. With these tools, Lori and Robyn have developed the Merkel-Walsh & Overland TOTs Protocol which looks at structure, oral motor function, pre-feeding, feeding, and speech. Participants will learn to use this tool to identify the possible need for a TOTs referral, and the functional impact this diagnosis may have on feeding and speech. Their unique style of “task analysis” is a practical strategy for assessment that is immediately carried over into developing a treatment program for neuro-muscular re-education.

Participants will learn through the concept of task analysis the specific ways in which TOTs impacts the oral motor and oral placement skills for breast, bottle, cup, straw, and solid feedings in addition to speech sound production. Videos and live practicums with attendee participation will provide therapeutic intervention tasks that participants can implement with their clients immediately. The importance of pre and post-surgical therapy will be discussed, and surgical techniques will be explored so that therapists maybe have a better understanding of the current research across disciplines on an international level.

Participants will be able to:

• List three forms of TOTs.
• Identify at least 3-5 functional impacts of TOTs on feeding skills.
• List at least 3 speech sounds that may be affected by TOTS.
• To list at least 2 professionals that should be consulted if TOTs is suspected after a functional assessment.

TalkTools®️ is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Provider #: 5282. This live, virtual course is offered at 6 contact hours or 0.6 CEUs, intermediate level, in the categories of OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) is the restriction of the frena or frenulum, which are small folds of tissue that connect bone to tissue and support or limit movement. While not a new condition, the term TOTs was coined by Kimberly Benkert, RDH and later by Dr.Kevin Boyd in 2014 to describe restriction of the frenula in the tongue (ankyloglossia),lip (lip-tie) or buccal frena. There are many “hot topics” about treating TOTs ranging from the need for surgery to whether or not pre- and post-op care is necessary. Lori and Robyn have done extensive literature review on TOTs and have collected several years’ worth of clinical data in preparation of this course to explore these controversies and focus on an evidence-based approach to treatment. This course provides participants with a “task analysis” of TOTs interventions, based on Robyn and Lori’s theoretical foundation that the oral sensory-motor system cannot be separated, and therefore when TOTs is diagnosed the impact on movement impedes the way the person processes sensory information for feeding and speech. Any movement in the body can be broken down into smaller motor units, and Robyn and Lori have created a series of neuromuscular re-education techniques ranging from passive to active to work with patients across the life span with a range of cognitive skills. This class will walk through interventions for both pre-feeding and feeding for: breast, bottle, cup, spoon, solid and straw feeding(s) in addition to the oral placements required for speech clarity. Pre and post- operative considerations as well as surgical procedures will be discussed. Neuromuscular re-education of the cheeks, lips and tongue will be presented and numerous demonstrations, practicums and video slides will teach participants to execute a functional remediation program. Exercises may be executed in the school, hospital or clinic-based settings based on the impact on education or activities of daily living. Finally, Robyn and Lori have added a new section on toddlers and strategies for success with this challenging population.

• Participants will be able to list at least 2 surgical techniques for TOTs.
• Participants will be able to identify at least 2 goals of a pre-op TOTs plan of care.
• Participants will be able to execute at least 3 neuromuscular education activities
  for pre and post op TOTs (1 buccal, 1 labial, 1 lingual).

TalkTools®️ is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Provider #: 0701. This live, virtual course is offered at 6 contact hours or 0.6 CEUs, intermediate level, in the categories of OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Content Disclosure: This presentation will focus on treatment methods related to the use of TalkTools® resources. Other similar treatment approaches will receive limited or no coverage during this lecture.

Total of 1.2 ASHA/AOTA CEUs

Instruction Level: Intermediate. The learning outcomes and objectives are relevant for inter-professional practice and education (IEP) programs; and can be applied across the client's lifespan in a variety of settings (schools, private practice, clinics/hospitals)

NOTE: This course welcomes IBCLC, dentists, surgeons, ENTs, occupational therapists, and RDHs -- however, we caution that only licensed professionals with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and/or feeding therapy within their scope of practice provide direct services.

Lori L. Overland MS CCC-SLP, C/NDT, CLC, FOM Instructor bio and financial disclosure

Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®️ Instructor bio and financial disclosure

TalkTools® virtual streaming workshops and webinars are recorded. Recorded presentations are available for 2 days after the dates posted and accessible only to learners who purchased a seat for this course.

*Choose the correct practicum during registration, add to your cart if you wish to receive it, and will be shipped to the address provided at checkout.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PRACTICUM HERE.

• Sensi + Tips
• Tongue Tip Lateralization & Elevation Tools
• The Liper Device (Tongue Training Tool)
• Jaw Grading Bite Blocks (Red)