MORE: Integrating the Mouth 
with Sensory and Postural Functions
Patricia Oetter, MA, OTR/L, FAOTA
Eileen Richter, MPH, OTR/L, FAOTA

Content appropriate for OTs, PTs and SLPs.
Intermediate level.

Description
While oral-motor treatment approaches for neurologically impaired children have focused on severe feeding dysfunction, recent clinical work with children who have sensory processing/developmental dysfunction has revealed a strong association between subtle oral-motor and respiratory dysfunction and many sensory integrative and sensory motor problems.

A framework for understanding how and why many aspects of development are significantly influenced by oral functions will be presented. This discussion will include the relationship of the suck/swallow/breathe synchrony to behavior, learning, postural development, feeding, communication, arousal, self-regulation, psychosocial development and even common health issues in children. The relevance of this information to treatment principles with children who have sensory processing/developmental dysfunction will then be shared using slides, case examples and participant lab activities. Documentation strategies for identifying abnormal function and demonstrating change through treatment will be provided. This information is particularly useful for occupational and physical therapists and speech pathologists working with children, but may be applied across the age span.

The MORE book will be used at the course and may be ordered from Pileated Press or with registration (for $35). Participants may wish to augment their learning experience by acquiring additional resource materials. “Out of the Mouths of Babes”; MORE The DVD. 

Objectives:
Participants will be able to

1. Outline and discuss the relationship of the suck/swallow/breathe synchrony to critical aspects of development. 

2. Identify and document subtle, abnormal SSB processes in children who have sensory processing/developmental dysfunction.

3. Implement treatment strategies designed to improve respiration patterns, self-regulation, postural control, visual motor skills, feeding and communication skills.

4. Demonstrate and apply techniques designed to enhance oral/respiratory function. 

Agenda * Total: 14 contact hours
Day 1 (7 contact hours)

8:00 - 8:30       Registration     
8:30 -10:00       Overview: The SSB Synchrony
10:00-10:15        Break
10:15 -10:30       Clinical Reasoning
10:30–12:00       Anatomical Structures & Mechanisms
                             of Suck
12:00 - 1:00        Lunch
1:00 -– 1:45          Neurological Foundations (Cranial
                             Nerves)
1:45  -  3:00        Implications for Arousal/Alertness
3:00  -  3:15        Break
3:15  -   4:15        The SSB Synchrony and Eating
4:15  -  5:00       Taste/Texture/Fit Practicum 

Day 2 (7 contact hours)
8:30 -10:00       Functional Mechanisms: 
                            Swallow/Respiration
10:00-10:15        Break
10:15 - 11:15         Practicum: Oral/Respiratory Activities
11:15 - 12:15         SSB & Attention
12:15 -  1:15          Lunch
1:15  - 3:00         Hands on Treatment Strategies: 
                            Respiration/Oral Motor
3:00 -  3:15        Break
3:15 –- 3:45        Functional Assessment (MORE PS)
3:45–- 5:00       Case Study/Problem Solving 
                           (Treatment Videos)

*Topic times may vary; contact hours do not

Participant Comments


"Thank you. . .for sharing your knowledge, ideas and strategies - they will greatly improve the way I approach intervention for the upper body (stability & respiration) and oral work."


"I thoroughly enjoyed the MORE course - Thank you! I have really learnt so much & am looking forward to applying my new knowledge!"


"The manner in which you have described the concepts has helped me greatly to understand their importance, and the practical experiences you have shared will help me to put this into practice."


"This course really brought a lot of SI pieces together for me. I'm going to use posture, breathing with my kids I treat. This was a great course for learning about postural control."


"Great take home ideas (and) info for tying it all together. Excellent course variety, lecture, slides, video, labs."