Speech-language pathologists, as defined by ASHA, are professionals who hold the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), which requires a master's, doctoral, or other recognized postbaccalaureate degree. ASHA-certified SLPs complete a supervised postgraduate professional experience and pass a national examination as described in the ASHA certification standards, (2014). Demonstration of continued professional development is mandated for the maintenance of the CCC-SLP. SLPs hold other required credentials where applicable (e.g., state licensure, teaching certification, specialty certification). Each practitioner evaluates his or her own experiences with preservice education, practice, mentorship and supervision, and continuing professional development. As a whole, these experiences define the scope of competence for each individual. The SLP should engage in only those aspects of the profession that are within her or his professional competence. SLPs are autonomous professionals who are the primary care providers of speech-language pathology services. Speech-language pathology services are not prescribed or supervised by another professional. Additional requirements may dictate that speech-language pathology services are prescribed and required to meet specific eligibility criteria in certain work settings, or as required by certain payers. SLPs use professional judgment to determine if additional requirements are indicated. Individuals with communication and/or swallowing disorders benefit from services that include collaboration by SLPs with other professionals. The profession of speech-language pathology contains a broad area of speech-language pathology practice that includes both speech-language pathology service delivery and professional practice domains. These domains are defined in subsequent sections of this document and are represented schematically. Framework for Speech-Language Pathology Practice The overall objective of speech-language pathology services is to optimize individuals' abilities to communicate and to swallow, thereby improving quality of life. As the population of the United States continues to become increasingly diverse, SLPs are committed to the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and to the consideration of diversity in scientific investigations of human communication and swallowing.

What can orofacial myofunctional therapy help me with? OMT aims to help all the different parts of your mouth area — your jaws, lips, teeth and tongue — smoothly work together as a unit. Healthcare providers sometimes use OMT to manage: Mouth breathing. This means you can’t take in enough air through your nose, despite adequate treatment for any nasal obstructions. Mouth breathing can lead to sleep disorders and affect your overall health. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is a form of sleep-disordered breathing that involves soft tissues in your head and neck pressing on your windpipe. This prevents you from taking in enough air and disrupts your sleep, potentially leading to serious complications. Open mouth posture. Normally, your lips should come together to form a seal. But an open mouth posture means your mouth remains slightly open at rest, potentially leading to issues with your teeth, jaws and tongue. An open mouth posture can also result in your tongue resting on the floor of your mouth. Your tongue should be lightly suctioned to the roof of your mouth at rest. Tongue thrust. This issue typically affects children. It’s when your child’s tongue pushes against or between their teeth. This affects their ability to swallow normally or produce certain sounds accurately — like s,z,t,d and n. It can also affect how their teeth develop. Clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism). Keeping your teeth tightly closed too often can damage your teeth and cause headaches or jaw pain. TMJ disorders. These conditions affect your temporomandibular (TMJ) joints and the muscles and ligaments around them. Over time, TMJ disorders can lead to chronic pain, trouble chewing and other problems. Recovery from jaw surgery. Some research shows that OMT can help improve your ability to chew foods after having jaw surgery. Recovery from surgery to release tongue ties (lingual frenectomy). OMT can be used to stretch the tongue muscles after surgery to get a better range of motion for eating and making sounds. What age is OMT for? OMT is designed for school-aged children (4 years old and up), adolescents and adults. It’s not appropriate for babies and toddlers because it requires understanding and following specific directions. Your provider or your child’s provider can tell you more about OMT and how it might help.

Signs and symptoms of tongue-tie include: Difficulty lifting the tongue to the upper teeth or moving the tongue from side to side. Trouble sticking out the tongue past the lower front teeth. A tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when stuck out. When to see a doctor See a doctor if: Your baby has signs of tongue-tie that cause problems, such as having trouble breastfeeding. A speech-language pathologist thinks your child's speech is affected by tongue-tie. Your older child complains of tongue problems that interfere with eating, speaking or reaching the back teeth. You're bothered by your own symptoms of tongue-tie. Causes: Typically, the lingual frenulum separates before birth, allowing the tongue free range of motion. With tongue-tie, the lingual frenulum remains attached to the bottom of the tongue. Why this happens is largely unknown, although some cases of tongue-tie have been associated with certain genetic factors. Risk factors Although tongue-tie can affect anyone, it's more common in boys than girls. Tongue-tie sometimes runs in families. Complications Tongue-tie may affect a baby's oral development, as well as the way the child eats, speaks and swallows. For example, tongue-tie can sometimes lead to: Breastfeeding problems. Breastfeeding requires a baby to keep the tongue over the lower gum while sucking. If unable to move the tongue or keep it in the right position, the baby might chew instead of suck on the nipple. This can cause significant nipple pain and interfere with a baby's ability to get breast milk. Ultimately, poor breastfeeding can lead to inadequate nutrition and failure to thrive. Speech difficulties. Tongue-tie can interfere with the ability to make certain sounds — such as "t," "d," "z," "s," "th," "n" and "l." Poor oral hygiene. For an older child or adult, tongue-tie can make it difficult to sweep food debris from the teeth. This can contribute to tooth decay and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Challenges with other oral activities. Tongue-tie can interfere with activities such as licking an ice cream cone, licking the lips, kissing or playing a wind instrument.