Oral Motor Structures and Functions: Foundations for Feeding

Presented by: Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
originally recorded February 16, 2017

Webinars are video presentations and include the recorded PowerPoint and lecture and a .pdf copy of the PowerPoint notes.

Description: Eating is a complex sensory-motor activity that requires coordination of numerous muscles and structures in the mouth, jaw and throat. Clinicians working with clients with oral motor and feeding problems must have a solid knowledge of the anatomy and functions of these structures in order to effectively assess and treat feeding problems. This webinar will discuss oral motor and related structures necessary for effective eating. The purpose of each structure as it relates to assessment and intervention will be presented. This webinar, Part 1 of a 2-part series, will focus on identification and understanding of these foundational structures. Part 2 of the series will discuss the typical development of oral motor and related structures, patterns and skills necessary to treatment plan and progress feeding interventions.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar viewers will be able to:

1. Identify the key oral motor and related structures needed for effective feeding.
2. Describe how each oral motor and related structure contributes to the feeding/eating process.
3. Describe how the oral motor and related structures relate to assessment and intervention of feeding problems.

Course Level: Intermediate. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Suitable For: Occupational therapists, OT assistants, physical therapists, PT assistants and students, speech and language therapists.

AOTA:
Domain: Performance Skills
Process: Intervention

Contact Hours: This course is worth 1.5 contact hours or .15 AOTA CEUs.

Completion Requirements: To receive contact hours for this course you must listen to the recorded webinar in its entirety and complete the accompanying assessment.

About the Speaker: Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Executive Director of the Spiral Foundation as well as a practicing occupational therapist at OTA The Koomar Center. She is active in conducting research related to sensory integration through the Spiral Foundation’s Sensory Processing Research Center and Laboratory. She is a well-known lecturer and researcher on sensory integration theory and intervention, has authored book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration, and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Dr. May-Benson received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her master’s degree from Boston University with a concentration in sensory integration and school system therapy. She was a Maternal and Child Health Fellow in the Doctoral Program in Therapeutic Studies at Boston University. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis.

ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact the Spiral Foundation at admin@thespiralfoundation.org or (617) 969 – 4410 ext. 231.

Continuing Education:

Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants:  The Spiral Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association.  The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.