This lecture presents a myofunctional lens for pediatric feeding that emphasizes how oral rest posture, lip seal/containment, jaw stability and grading, tongue lateralization/elevation, and cheek–tongue coordination directly influence chewing, bolus formation, oral transit, and swallow readiness. Participants will learn a practical assessment workflow that moves from rest to function to challenge using real-time observation with age-appropriate textures to identify patterns such as front chewing, overstuffing, pocketing, fatigue, and compensatory swallow behaviors. Clinical interpretation is paired with evidence-informed intervention planning: attendees will practice selecting functional feeding goals (texture progression, reduced meal duration, improved bolus management) alongside foundational targets that support motor pattern change.

Participants will be able to: 

• Participants will identify orofacial myofunctional patterns (e.g., oral rest posture, lip seal/containment, jaw grading/stability, tongue lateralization, and cheek–tongue coordination) that may contribute to inefficient chewing, bolus formation, and oral transit in pediatric feeding.
• Participants will apply a structured feeding assessment process to analyze chewing and swallow behaviors (e.g., anterior chewing, overstuffing, pocketing, fatigue, compensatory swallow patterns) and determine when a myofunctional  treatment plan and/or interdisciplinary referral is indicated.
• Participants will design evidence-informed intervention plans that pair functional feeding goals (e.g., texture progression, improved efficiency, reduced residue/pocketing) with foundational orofacial targets and select outcome measures to monitor change over time.
   

Instructor Details and Financial Disclosure 

• Toni-Ann Antoniato MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

Registration

• Online ONLY for 1 learner -- Access to Online Course for 365 Days/1 Year (0.2-hour CE course, downloadable handout, certificate of completion)

Timed Agenda

• 15  minutes  Overview: Feeding Through a Myofunctional Lens
• 15  minutes  Module 1: Foundational OMD Patterns That Impact Feeding
• 30  minutes  Module 2: Assessment
• 30  minutes  Module 3: Intervention and Functional Outcomes
• 15  minutes  Case Study

• 15  minutes  Q&A

  TOTAL: 120 minutes
   

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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.

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