In this episode, Hallie Bulkin speaks with Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT about the vital role of interprofessional collaboration in achieving optimal patient outcomes, particularly for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT emphasizes that working alongside occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), dentists, and other specialists is not just beneficial—it is now a core competency in modern healthcare.

Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT and Hallie discuss the necessity of recognizing the limits of your own expertise and knowing when to make a referral. Collaboration ensures a whole-person therapeutic approach and prevents the professional burnout that comes from trying to "fix everything" in isolation. They cover key areas where SLPs and other therapists must coordinate care, such as feeding mechanics, positioning for speech, and addressing core stability and motor skills.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ ️ Interprofessional collaboration is essential for SLPs, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced medical errors.

✔️ Collaboration often involves partnering with Occupational Therapists (OTs) for fine motor skills, positioning, and feeding mechanics, and Physical Therapists (PTs) for gross motor skills, body positioning, and trunk control.

✔️ Collaboration shifts the focus from checking off individual treatment boxes to a patient-centered approach that meets the family's actual needs.

✔️ Poor communication is responsible for an estimated 70-80% of serious medical errors; collaboration significantly reduces this risk.

✔️ Recognizing the limits of your own scope and knowing when to refer is crucial for long-term career sustainability and preventing professional burnout.

✔️ Clinical collaboration can take many forms, including email consultations, case conferences, co-treatment sessions, and shared documentation.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 234: The Role of Occupational Therapists in TOTs Care with Anna Dearman MBA, MOT, LOTR, CLC
• Ep 332: The Interconnectedness of Oral and Systemic Health with Amber White RDH, HHP

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

📅 Doors to Feed The Peds® open soon | join the waitlist

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In this episode, Hallie Bulkin addresses what she calls "one of the most misunderstood topics in our field" : tongue tie diagnosis. She challenges the common clinical practice of relying on visual assessment—hearing clinicians say, "it looks tied" or "it's a mild tie"—and emphatically states that function is what determines a diagnosis, not appearance.

Hallie introduces a 4-step framework for making confident, clinically sound decisions : Function, Form, Impact, Decision. She emphasizes that the appearance-based mindset often leads to both over- and under-diagnosis of ties, and that true diagnosis requires observing the tongue's mobility, coordination, and control within the entire system.

Hallie also stresses the importance of addressing compensatory movements, which she believes mask true movement and should not be taught as a form of "survival mode". For optimal outcomes, treatment must focus on function and consider the whole connected system—airway, jaw, spine, and nervous system.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Ep 347: Airway First: The Pediatric Dentist's Essential Role in Treating Tongue Ties and Growth Issues
• EP 348: Tongue Ties, Sleep Apnea & More: The Patient-Centered Approach to Airway Dentistry

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

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In this episode, Hallie Bulkin discusses the complexities surrounding tethered oral tissues, specifically tongue ties, lip ties, and buckle ties. She emphasizes that not all ties require surgical release and that the decision should be based on functional impacts such as speech, feeding, and sleep. 

Hallie highlights the importance of thorough evaluations and the role of therapy in determining the necessity of a release. She advocates for a patient-centered approach, considering individual goals and the overall impact on health and function.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

✔️Not all ties need to be released; it depends on function.

✔️Function is the key driver in determining the need for release.

✔️Research is often behind clinical practice by about 17 years.

✔️Therapy can sometimes eliminate the need for a release.

✔️Evaluations should focus on how tethered tissues impact daily life.

✔️Compensatory strategies can mask the need for a release.

✔️Patient goals should guide treatment decisions.

✔️Open mouth posture is a significant indicator for evaluation.

✔️Therapy before and after release is crucial for success.

✔️Individualized treatment plans are essential for optimal outcomes.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 200: Functional Impact: When A Tongue Tie Is ACTUALLY A Tongue Tie
• Ep 348: Airway Dentistry Demystified: Kassi Klein on Tongue Ties, Sleep Apnea & Childhood Development

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

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In this empowering episode, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Angela Richwine, RDH, BASc, QOM, COM®, to dive deep into the world of myofunctional therapy and collaboration in healthcare. Angela opens up about her personal journey into the field, the pivotal moments that shaped her practice, and how her passion for helping others led her to uncover the root causes behind oral and airway issues.

Together, Hallie and Angela explore the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork, patient education, and parent advocacy in achieving better outcomes. They shed light on the growing awareness of myofunctional therapy, the challenges professionals face in bridging knowledge gaps, and the need for continuing education to deliver truly holistic care.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that myofunctional therapy is not just about correcting habits - it’s about understanding the “why” behind them, empowering patients, and transforming lives through collaboration and education.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ How Angela’s personal journey led her to specialize in myofunctional therapy.

✔️ Why collaboration among healthcare professionals enhances patient care.

✔️ The critical role of patient education in lasting health outcomes.

✔️ How parents can advocate for their children’s oral and airway health.

✔️ The importance of addressing the root causes, not just the symptoms.

✔️ Why continuing education is essential for myofunctional therapists.

✔️ How understanding the mouth as a “gateway to health” changes everything.

✔️ The power of listening to patients and setting clear therapy goals.

✔️ How to navigate misconceptions and raise awareness about myofunctional therapy.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Evidence vs. Pseudoscience in Myofunctional Therapy with Hallie Bulkin & Robyn Merkel-Walsh
• EP 341: From Dental Hygiene to Myofunctional Therapy with Hallie Bulkin & Ashley Dorado

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Become a Certified Myofunctional Therapist™ (CMT®): https://www.themyomethod.com

• “Turn on your Myo Eyes” free webinar: https://www.feedthepeds.com/myo-webinar

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, Hallie Bulkin and Kassi Klein explore the intricate world of airway dentistry, discussing Kassi's personal journey into the field, the importance of understanding craniofacial development, and the need for a patient-centered approach that focuses on the underlying reasons for patients' concerns. 

They emphasize the significance of collaboration among various healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care, the balance between functional and structural treatment approaches, and the critical role of assessing tongue ties and other oral tissues. The discussion also touches on common myths surrounding airway health, the impact of sleep apnea on children, and Kassi's vision for the future of airway dentistry.

✔️Kassi's journey into airway dentistry began with her mother's health issues.

✔️Understanding craniofacial development is crucial for effective treatment.

✔️Finding the 'why' behind patients' concerns enhances care.

✔️Collaboration with other healthcare providers is essential.

✔️Functional treatment approaches must complement structural changes.

✔️Assessing tongue ties is vital for proper oral development.

✔️Symptoms like ear infections can indicate underlying airway issues.

✔️Common myths about airway health can mislead parents and providers.

• Episode 200: Functional Impact: When A Tongue Tie Is ACTUALLY A Tongue Tie
• Ep 347: Airway First: The Pediatric Dentist's Essential Role in Treating Tongue Ties and Growth Issues (with Dr. Anita Gouri)

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com
• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

• Connect with Kassi Klein, DDS, D.ABDSM:
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassi-klein/overlay/about-this-profile/?trk=people-guest_people_search-card
• https://www.instagram.com/breathesleepandairway/?hl=en
• https://www.zocdoc.com/dentist/kassi-klein-dds-610392

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In this episode, Hallie Bulkin welcomes special guest Dr. Anita Gouri, a board-certified pediatric dentist, to dive deep into the critical, often-missed connection between pediatric dentistry and a child's overall airway health and development.

Dr. Gouri shares her personal journey into airway and tissue-focused dentistry, motivated by her own daughter's and nephew's feeding and developmental challenges due to undiagnosed tongue ties.

They emphasize the absolute necessity of a multidisciplinary approach, stressing that therapy (SLP, OT, IBCLC, etc.) is optimal before and after a tongue tie release for the best outcomes and to avoid reattachment or unresolved symptoms. The conversation extends to older children, discussing the importance of an airway evaluation before prescribing ADHD medications and the dramatic life-changing results of early palatal expansion to open the airway.

✔️ Dr. Gouri’s personal experience discovering her daughter's tongue tie at age 7, long after dealing with feeding issues, colic, and difficulty eating non-pureed foods. 

✔️ Why pre- and post-operative therapy (like with an SLP, OT, or IBCLC) is 100% crucial for optimal outcomes following a tongue tie release. 

✔️ The importance of getting an airway evaluation before putting children on ADHD medication. 

✔️ Key signs of pediatric airway issues during sleep, including mouth breathing , tossing/turning/restless sleep , and the often-missed red flag of hyperextension of the neck. 

✔️ The dramatic benefits of early palatal expansion (as early as 3 or 4 years old) to open the airway, often resolving issues like chronic infections (like croup) and snoring , even if the child does not have a crossbite. 

✔️ How simple strategies like sleep hygiene (removing dust mite harbingers like stuffed animals and blankets) and dietary changes (like kicking gluten) can reduce inflammation and improve breathing. 

✔️ Why a "quick snip" of a tongue tie may not address the entire posterior tie, which can lead to later issues like speech problems.

• Episode 204: Progressing Through Play and TOTs with Dr. Brita Destefano
• Episode 293: Finding a TOTs Release Provider with Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com
• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com
• Connect with Dr. Anita Gouri: https://nocavitykids.com/meet-dr-gouri/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin dives into a topic we all need to hear as we navigate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the rest of the holiday season: how our festive food and drink habits directly impact our sleep and breathing.

It's about more than just your waistline, what you eat and drink this time of year directly affects your airway health and daily function. Hallie connects the dots between common holiday culprits like sugar and alcohol, and poor sleep quality, snoring, and overall well-being. She emphasizes the importance of moderation, modeling good habits for your kids, and creating simple strategies to thrive through the season.

 ✔️Why sugar contributes to inflammation throughout the body, which can cause swelling and restrict an already tight airway.

 ✔️How consuming too much sugar can lead to sleep-disordered breathing, disrupted sleep, and snoring.

 ✔️The signs of sugar impact in children (hyperness followed by a hard crash, restless sleep) and adults (frequent nighttime waking, morning exhaustion, or a "low-level cloud" feeling).

 ✔️Why alcohol acts as a muscle relaxer, which can cause airway muscles to be more easily collapsible, leading to more snoring and potentially more apnic events.

 ✔️The benefit of balancing carbohydrates (sugar) with protein, fiber, and fat to help your body process food with greater ease.

 ✔️Simple strategies for both adults and families to focus on airway health during the holidays.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Ep 332: The Interconnectedness of Oral and Systemic Health with Amber White RDH, HHP
• Ep 333: Transforming airway health & smiles with MARPE featuring Dr. Svitlana Koval, DMD, MSc, BDS

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin interviews Meaghan Beames, a craniosacral therapist, discussing the profound impact of craniosacral therapy on infant feeding and development. They explore Meaghan's journey into this field, the connection between craniosacral therapy and oral development, and the importance of addressing tension patterns in infants. 

The conversation emphasizes the need for more qualified providers in this area and the significance of nervous system regulation for both babies and parents. Meaghan shares insights on the number of therapy sessions needed, the challenges faced by families, and the importance of meeting them where they are. The episode concludes with advice for those looking to build a business in infant therapy, highlighting the ongoing demand for these services.

✔️Craniosacral therapy can significantly improve infant feeding issues.

 ✔️Tension patterns in the body can affect a baby's ability to feed.

 ✔️It's essential to meet families where they are in their journey.

 ✔️Nervous system regulation is crucial for both infants and parents.

 ✔️Craniosacral therapy helps babies feel safe and calm.

 ✔️The number of therapy sessions needed varies by individual case.

 ✔️Craniosacral therapy can aid in the recovery post-tongue tie release.

 ✔️There is a growing need for qualified providers in infant therapy.

 ✔️Parents often feel overwhelmed and need support in their journey.

 ✔️Building a business in infant therapy can be rewarding and necessary.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 154: Fascia and Function Throughout The Body with Daniel Lopez, D.O.
• Episode 231: Gentle Healing with Craniosacral Therapy with Courtney Whitaker LMT, CST

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

🥄 Download your Free Pediatric Feeding Screening Packet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Untethered podcast, Hallie Bulkin and her daughters, Lily and Mia, share their experiences with dental expanders and clear aligners. They discuss the feelings associated with getting and removing expanders, the transition to Invisalign, and the daily challenges and funny moments that arise during their orthodontic journeys. 

Hallie also provides an update on her own dental treatment, emphasizing the importance of airway health and the overall benefits of these dental appliances for both children and adults.

✔️The experience of getting an expander can be uncomfortable but is manageable.

✔️Removing the expander can feel liberating and improve speech.

✔️Clear aligners offer more flexibility compared to fixed expanders.

✔️Daily life with Invisalign includes challenges like remembering to wear them.

✔️Kids can adapt well to orthodontic treatments with the right support.

✔️Funny stories often arise from the challenges of wearing dental appliances.

✔️Maintaining good hygiene and care for aligners is crucial.

✔️Airway health is an important aspect of orthodontic treatment.

✔️Parents should encourage kids to share their experiences with peers.

✔️Open communication about dental treatments can help alleviate fears. 

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Ep 331: Inside My MARPE Journey with Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™
• Episode 322: Child Expansion Journey: Real Talks with Lily and Mia

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful conversation, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Emily Hussey, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, CLC, founder of Eats and Speaks, to explore the dynamic world of pediatric feeding therapy. Emily shares her journey from speech-language pathology to pediatric feeding, highlighting the importance of early oral health, parent education, and individualized care for every child.

They unpack the realities of working with families, the need for collaboration among professionals, and how early intervention can shape lifelong health outcomes. Emily also discusses the challenges of running a private practice, from navigating insurance complexities to building a supportive, mission-driven team.

Throughout the episode, Hallie and Emily emphasize that feeding therapy is about more than just food - it’s about connection, confidence, and care.

 ✔️ Why Emily pivoted from speech therapy to pediatric feeding therapy.

✔️ The role of early intervention in preventing long-term feeding issues.

✔️ How parent education supports children’s feeding and oral development.

✔️ Why every child requires an individualized, flexible care approach.

✔️ The impact of “all-or-nothing” thinking on therapeutic outcomes.

✔️ How teamwork enhances care in feeding and myofunctional therapy.

✔️ What it takes to build and sustain a successful private practice.

✔️ How insurance challenges affect accessibility to therapy services.

✔️ Why community and peer support are vital for therapists and families alike.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 299: Breathing, Bites, and Breakthroughs with Dr. Nora Ghodousi-Zaghi DDS
• Ep 335: The #1 Way to Transform Your Pediatric Feeding Evaluations

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

• Learn more about Emily’s work: https://www.eatsandspeaks.com/

🍼 Ready to deep-dive into tethered oral tissues? Check out Tongue Tie Bootcamp

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