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    Team Based Care for Tethered Oral Tissues: Pediatric

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    Appropriate Disciplines

    • Physical Therapist
    • Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Physical Therapy Asst
    • Speech Language Pathologist
    • Speech Language Pathology Asst
COURSE MENU

Course Description

This course is designed for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and physical therapists (PTs) seeking to expand their understanding of tethered oral tissues (TOTs) using an interdisciplinary, function-based approach. Offered at an introductory to intermediate level, the course addresses challenges such as inconsistent screening practices, difficulty distinguishing functional impact from structural presentation, and uncertainty with referral pathways and timing of frenectomy. Participants will learn practical strategies to improve screening, identify compensatory patterns, and support patients across the continuum of care, including pre- and post-surgical intervention. Emphasis is placed on collaborative, team-based care to enhance clinical decision-making. By the end of the course, clinicians will be better equipped to recognize red flags, implement functional interventions, and coordinate care for pediatric and adult populations.

COURSE LEVEL: Introductory

ATTENDANCE:

  1. Attend as part of the LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE in Gulf Breeze, Florida - Studio audience seats are limited - so register today!
  2. Attend via LIVE STREAM from anywhere around the world. Live stream participants will login to access the event from their computer.

NOTE:

  • This live event is streamed in real time.
  • Course agenda is in Central time, please adjust for your time zone
  • Registrants who attend the live broadcast will be able to interact with instructor.
  • All registrants will have access to the broadcast recording for 14 days.
  • A group may view the course together, however each attendee must be individually registered in order to receive CE credit.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Attend/view entire course
  • Pass multiple choice quiz (80% min score)
  • Complete online course evaluation

CEUs:

  • SLPs - this course is registered with ASHA as Blended Learning. ASHA CEUs may be earned by attending live, viewing the recording, or a combination of both.
  • OT/PTs - Participants who need live hours for state license renewal must attend in real time yet, will still have access to the recording for 14 days.
.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the anatomy and functional implications of tethered oral tissues (TOTs) across the lifespan.
  • Differentiate between structural presentation and functional impairment when screening for tethered oral tissues.
  • Identify red flags and compensatory patterns associated with TOTs in feeding, swallowing, speech, breathing, posture, and movement.
  • Demonstrate functional screening techniques to assess oral-motor, postural, and sensory-motor factors related to TOTs.
  • Analyze patient presentations to determine readiness for referral and/or surgical intervention within an interdisciplinary care model.
  • Apply interdisciplinary collaboration strategies to support comprehensive care planning for individuals with TOTs.
  • Develop functional intervention approaches to support patients pre- and post-frenectomy.
  • Combine TOT considerations into clinical decision-making to improve patient outcomes across pediatric and adult populations.

Tracy Biggs

Tracy Biggs, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC, QOM, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with nearly two decades of clinical experience providing evaluation and treatment across pediatric and adult populations. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and earned her master’s degree in speech language pathology
from Ball State University.
Tracy has worked in a wide range of clinical settings incluCOMMding acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, home health, and private practice, developing extensive expertise in communication, swallowing, and feeding disorders. She is also a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and a Qualified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist (QOM), allowing her to integrate feeding, airway, and orofacial function into a comprehensive, whole-body approach to care. Her clinical specialties include tethered oral tissues (tongue and lip ties), infant and pediatric feeding, orofacial myofunctional disorders, and interdisciplinary care coordination. Tracy is currently practicing in a private breastfeeding medicine clinic where she collaborates closely with medical, dental, and bodywork professionals to support patients across the lifespan. Tracy has extensive experience educating caregivers and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and she is committed to advancing clinician understanding of functional, team-based approaches to tethered oral tissues. Her combined background in speech-language pathology, lactation, and myofunctional therapy uniquely qualifies her to teach this course, which emphasizes practical application, clinical reasoning, and collaborative care to improve patient outcomes.
Financial Disclosure Tracy receives honoraria from CIAO for the presentation of her live courses and royalties for the sale of her online courses. Tracy receives a salary as an employee from Momsense
Non-Financial Disclosure: Tracy is a member of ASHA and IAOM.

Live Stream is 30 minute lunch

Day 1

08:00 - 08:45
Welcome, Introduction & Course Orientation
08:45 - 10:45
Foundations of Tethered Oral Tissues Across the Lifespan
10:45 - 11:00
Break
11:00 - 12:00
Interdisciplinary Assessment & Screening
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch
12:30 - 02:00
Collaborative Clinical Decision-Making & Case Studies
02:00 - 02:45
Body-Based Modalities & Functional Integration, Live Demonstration
02:45 - 03:00
Break
03:00 - 03:45
Pre- and Post-Frenectomy Protocols for Long-Term Success, Hands-On Practice
03:45 - 04:30
Building Your Professional Network, Final Activity & Course Wrap-Up

Delivery VIA:

  • Live Stream - This course is live streamed from the CIAO Studios. Watch and interact with the instructor from wherever you are or join us as part of the studio audience in sunny Gulf Breeze, FL. Included with each Live Stream registration is access to the course recording for the 14 days immediately following the broadcast.

Contact hours pre-approved for:

  • 7.5 Hours
  • CIAO is an ASHA Approved Provider (0.75 ASHA CEUs)
  • ASHA CE Provider Approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.
  • This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (7.5 PDUs)
  • CIAO is an Illinois Approved Provider for PT/PTA Continuing Education
  • CIAO is recognized as an Approved Provider for PT/PTAs by the NYSE Dept State Board for PT
  • This activity is provided by the Texas Board of PT Examiners Accredited Prov #2802009TX
  • This activity meets continuing competence requirements for PT/PTA license renewal in TX
  • The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE
  • CIAO is a Rule Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Physical Therapy
  • CIAO is an Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy
  • Approved for:
  • 7.5 Hrs. PT/PTAs in IL, TX (TX(7.5 CCUs, APTA#2802009TX)
  • 9 Hrs. OT/COTAs, PT/PTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-1389020)
  • 9 Hrs. PT/PTAs in NY
  • 7.5 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for OT/COTAs in AL, AZ, GA, LA, MS, SC, TN
  • 7.5 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for PT/PTAs in AR, AZ, GA, OK, SC, V.I

Course meets requirements for:

  • PT/PTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, MT,
  • PT/PTAs in NE, NH, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
  • OT/COTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,
  • OT/COTAs in NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

    • CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.


    CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)


    Introductory Level
    0.75 ASHA CEUs


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