Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder associated with significant health, cognitive, and quality-of-life consequences. Speech-language pathologists are increasingly involved in the identification and treatment of orofacial myofunctional disorders that may contribute to airway dysfunction. This intermediate-level course will provide participants with an overview of sleep apnea, including risk factors, pathophysiology, and common diagnostic measures such as the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Participants will explore the evidence supporting myofunctional therapy as part of a multidisciplinary approach to sleep-disordered breathing. Through an in-depth case study, attendees will examine how targeted intervention addressing oral rest posture, tongue strength and function, and tongue thrust swallow patterns corresponded with improvements in nightly sleep biometrics and AHI over time. Clinical applications, treatment considerations, and outcomes measurement strategies will be discussed.

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology, risk factors, and diagnostic indicators of obstructive sleep apnea, including interpretation of AHI data.
2. Explain the relationship between orofacial myofunctional disorders, airway function, and sleep-disordered breathing, including the role of oral rest posture, tongue strength, and swallowing patterns.
3. Analyze a clinical case study to identify how myofunctional therapy interventions may contribute to improvements in sleep-related biometric outcomes and AHI measures.

Instructor Bio and Financial Disclosures:

• Vanessa Anderson-Smith, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®

Registration Fees

• $150 : 0.2 ASHA CEUs, digital workbook & certificate of completion.

Schedule

0–10 Minutes: Introduction and Course Overview

• Speaker introductions
• Course objectives
• Why sleep-disordered breathing is relevant to SLP practice
• Overview of the featured case study
   

10–40 Minutes: What Is Sleep Apnea?

• Definitions and types of sleep apnea
• Prevalence and risk factors
• Anatomy and physiology of the upper airway
• Health consequences of untreated OSA
• Understanding sleep study metrics
  • AHI
  • Oxygen saturation
  • Sleep architecture
• The role of screening and interdisciplinary referrals

 

40–75 Minutes: How Myofunctional Therapy Impacts Sleep Apnea

• Overview of the evidence base
• Orofacial myofunctional disorders and airway function
• Oral rest posture and nasal breathing
• Tongue strength, endurance, and airway stability
• Tongue thrust swallow patterns
• Treatment goals and intervention strategies
• Collaboration with sleep physicians, dentists, and orthodontists
   

75–110 Minutes: Case Study—Myofunctional Therapy and Objective Sleep Outcomes

• Patient history and assessment findings
• Baseline sleep biometrics and AHI
• Treatment plan and rationale
• Oral rest posture intervention
• Tongue strengthening program
• Tongue thrust swallow therapy
• Progress monitoring using nightly sleep metrics
• Review of biometrics and AHI trends throughout treatment
• Clinical outcomes and lessons learned
   

110–120 Minutes: Questions, Discussion, and Key Takeaways

• Audience questions
• Summary of clinical implications
• Practical takeaways for implementation in clinical settings
• Additional resources and next steps

 

 

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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