| Description |
Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) is the restriction of the frena or frenulum, which are small folds of tissue that connect bone to tissue and support or limit movement. The term TOTs is used to describe restriction of the frenula in the tongue (ankyloglossia), lip (lip-tie) or buccal frena. While there are respected assessment protocols that look at the structure of the tissues, there is yet to be a detailed functional assessment that looks at the impact of TOTs on oral motor, feeding and speech skills. Lori and Robyn have done extensive literature review on TOTs and have collected several years’ worth of clinical data in preparation of this course.
This course provides participants with a “Task Analysis” of TOTs, walking through breast, bottle, cup, spoon, solid and straw feeding in addition to the oral placements required for speech clarity. Numerous demonstrations, practicums and video slides will teach participants to execute both a structural and functional assessment with child and adult protocols. Participants will also learn how to use a TOTs 5-Step Screening Tool. This course is rich with evidence based practices and will address many of the controversies that make TOTs a “hot topic”.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to list at least 2 assessment protocols for TOTs.
Participants will be able to identify at least 3 red flags of TOTs.
Participants will be able to list at least 3 ways in which TOTs impacts feeding across the lifespan.
Participants will be able to list at least 2 speech sounds that can be correlated with TOTs.
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