This one-day course provides a comprehensive overview of gross, fine, and oral sensory motor development from birth to 36 months, with emphasis on how delays in motor development—especially during the first year—can significantly impact oral function and feeding outcomes. Video case studies will be used to explore real-time developmental trajectories, highlight both typical and atypical patterns, and strengthen clinical observation skills.
The course culminates in the application of a sensory motor approach to feeding evaluation and intervention. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how motor development lays the groundwork for safe and successful feeding, and how to apply this framework in the assessment and treatment of children with feeding challenges.
Event Information
Course Description
As speech language pathologists our training, in anatomy and physiology , is limited and focuses on the oral musculature, and muscles of respiration. This was true 43 years ago and continues to be the norm in most graduate programs today, in spite of landmark works that traced gross motor, fine motor and oral motor development through the first year of life. (Alexander, A., Boehme, R., & Cupps, B.. (1993). Normal development of functional motor skills: The first year. Therapy Skill Builders. Tucson, AZ.)
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) often receive limited formal training in gross and fine motor anatomy and physiology that influences oral motor function. SLPs training typically focuses only on oral musculature and respiration. Despite landmark works like Normal Development of Functional Motor Skills: The First Year (Alexander, Boehme, & Cupps, 1993), this remains the norm in many graduate programs. However, a growing body of research and clinical practice emphasizes the essential connection between the body’s overall motor development and oral sensory motor skills for feeding and speech.
This one-day course provides a comprehensive overview of gross, fine, and oral sensory motor development from birth to 36 months, with emphasis on how delays in motor development—especially during the first year—can significantly impact oral function and feeding outcomes. Video case studies will be used to explore real-time developmental trajectories, highlight both typical and atypical patterns, and strengthen clinical observation skills.
The course culminates in the application of a sensory motor approach to feeding evaluation and intervention. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how motor development lays the groundwork for safe and successful feeding, and how to apply this framework in the assessment and treatment of children with feeding challenges.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify gross motor milestones from birth through 12 months of age.
- Identify oral motor milestones from birth through 12 months of age.
- Describe how gross, fine, and oral motor development interact to support feeding function.
- Identify the feeding challenges that arise when there are delays in gross and fine motor development.
- Apply a sensory motor framework to the evaluation of oral motor function and feeding readiness.
Webinar Details
- Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, CLC, FOM
Registration Fees
- $260 0.6 ASHA CEUs, digital workbook/handout & certificate of completion.
Schedule
Timed Agenda (lunch and two 15 minutes minute breaks)
Introduction-10 minutes
Basic Tenants of Motor Development-30 minutes
Hallmarks of Gross, Fine and Oral Motor Skills/Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral Motor -120 minutes
0-1 month
0-1 month-Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
2 months
0-2 months- Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
3-4 months
3-4 months- Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
5-6 months
5-6 months- Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
7-8 months
7-8 months- Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
9-10 months
9-10 months- Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
11-12 months
11-12 months- Red Flags for Delays in Gross, Fine and Oral motor development
Hallmarks of Oral Sensory Skill Development- 12-36 months -30 minutes
Overview of a Sensory Motor Approach to Feeding/Task Analysis of Motor Skills for Chewing -30 minutes
Q & A-10 minutes
Understanding postural control can provide a basis for assessment of oral sensory motor skill challenges T/F
NDT planning and intervention focus on the relationship between posture and movement for functional activities across the lifespan T/F
There is only one course of typical development T/F
All babies should start solids at 6 months of age T/F
Disorganization leads to increased organization as movements go from reflexive to active T/F
CEUs

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.
Satisfactory Completion:
To receive a Certificate of Completion learners must: attend the entirety of the course; complete the course quiz with a passing score of 80% accuracy or higher and complete the course completion survey. Learners must request to be reported to ASHA CE.
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