In this episode of The Authentic SLP, Nicole unpacks one of the most overlooked roots of feeding, speech, and sleep challenges: oral-facial function. She explains how tongue/lip/“buccal” ties, low tongue posture, mouth breathing, enlarged adenoids/tonsils, pacifiers/thumb-sucking past 12 months, and true oral-motor weakness can shape a child’s palate, airway, behavior, and articulation over time.
From NICU latches to kindergarten lisps, Nicole shares what’s evidence-informed, what’s overdone, and when a release isn’t the fix—highlighting practical first steps like ENT evaluation (including adenoid x-rays and sleep studies), early oral-motor work (e.g., Beckman), and when myofunctional therapy makes sense.
If you’re a parent wondering whether to “wait and see,” or an SLP deciding where to invest in training, this episode offers a plain-spoken roadmap to protect airway, feeding, and speech—without overcomplicating the plan.

You’ll learn:

• How low tongue posture and mouth breathing impact palate growth, sleep, and attention
• When ties are truly ties—and why surrounding tissue tension can mimic them
• Why early oral-motor work (Beckman) can prevent long-term braces/sleep issues
• When to loop in ENT, dentists/orthodontists, or myofunctional therapists
• Red flags that mean it’s time to evaluate (not panic)

Need a quick gut-check on next steps? Book a consult via the link in Nicole’s bio to get matched with the right local provider for your child.