0.6 ASHA CEUs • 0.6 AOTA CEUs • 6 Instructional Hours

Course Description

Our SMILE Program (SysteMatic Intervention for Lingual Elevation) is an effective way to help children remediate articulation errors including persistent lisps, interdentalized productions of t-d-l-n, and distortions of sh-ch-r.

The program targets the root of the speech problem which is often a tongue thrust disorder.

Robyn discovered in a school-based setting that by combining oral placement, swallowing and articulation therapies, progress rates improved.

This course addresses children ages 3 and up, who present with persistent articulation errors secondary to a Tongue Thrust Disorder.

Learning Outcomes

• Diagnose myofunctional disorders based on oral placement skills/swallowing skills/articulation skills
• List defining characteristics of a myofunctional disorder
• Determine if oral-motor prerequisite skills are intact in order to initiate myofunctional therapy techniques (Jaw-structure-tone)
• Measure treatment outcomes throughout the therapeutic process
• Combine oral placement, swallowing and articulation therapy techniques for those children who present myofunctional disorders
• Implement at least ten exercises for a tongue thrust program 

The "Tongue Thrust" course is an interactive, hands-on workshop. When taking this course as a self-study it is encouraged that you follow along with all of the activities.

Instructor

Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP bio