| Description |
*These rep-conference sessions only are approved for the following IL EI sessions:
*Pre-Conference Session 1: Airway Pathology in the Neonate: Implications for Feeding and Breathing-2 ATY, 1 AS, 1 INT
*Pre-Conference Session 2: Nurturing with AMOR (Autonomic, Motor, Organization of State, Responsivity): Transforming Neonatal Care Through Relationships-1.5 INT, 1.5 WWF
Pre-Conference Session 1: Airway pathology in neonates presents complex challenges that intersect the domains of breathing, feeding, and early communication development. For otolaryngologists and neonatal therapists, understanding the nuances of neonatal airway disorders is critical to accurate assessment and effective intervention. This lecture will review the anatomy and physiology of the neonatal airway, emphasizing common structural and dynamic pathologies such as laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia, subglottic stenosis, laryngeal clefts and vocal fold paralysis. Findings, work-up and interdisciplinary management strategies will be discussed.
Participants will explore how airway compromise influences suck–swallow–breathe coordination, airway protection, and early vocalization. Case examples will illustrate differential diagnosis between airway and oropharyngeal etiologies of dysphagia, and the interpretation of instrumental evaluations such as flexible endoscopy, bronchoscopy, and video fluoroscopic swallow studies. The session will highlight the importance of collaborative practice in optimizing outcomes for medically fragile infants.
Pre-Conference Session 2: This interactive 3-4-hour workshop will explore the Infant AMOR framework—Autonomic, Motor, Organization of State, and Responsivity—as a foundation for relationship-based, neuroprotective care in the neonatal unit. Grounded in principles of infant mental health, AMOR supports practitioners in understanding how early interactions shape brain development, emotional regulation, and the parent–infant relationship.
Participants will be introduced to the infant AMOR framework and its role in recognizing and responding to infant cues in a structured, meaningful way. Guided video observations will build confidence in applying AMOR to real-time assessments and caregiving decisions. The workshop will also present the Newborn Traffic Light Tool, a practical resource to minimize infant stress and enhance team-wide sensitivity, responsiveness, and consistency.
Central to the session is the understanding that moments matter. Each interaction—no matter how routine—can support or disrupt an infant’s developing sense of safety, connection, and self-regulation. AMOR-informed care offers a framework to harness these moments, aligning clinical practice with each infant’s unique needs and family context.
The workshop will show how AMOR-informed care complements and strengthens existing developmental care practices, offering a cohesive approach that places the infant’s lived experience at the heart of clinical decision-making. Practical examples will demonstrate how AMOR principles guide caregiving interactions, shared caregiving occupations, and neurodevelopmental assessments responsive to the infant’s relational and regulatory needs.
After attending the workshop, participants will have the tools, shared language, and reflective insight to integrate the AMOR framework into everyday neonatal care—enhancing caregiving relationships, promoting co-regulation, and supporting the early foundations of infant mental health. The workshop also serves as an in-depth introduction to one of the key frameworks of the Newborn Behavioral Observations System (NBO), providing a strong basis for those wishing to embed relationship-based, evidence-informed care in their practice.
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