Making Sense of Myo: Using Orofacial Myology To Support Differential Diagnosis

*** Originally aired: 10/9/2023 ***

Guest: Melissa Vagts, MSP, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

This episode explores how knowledge of orofacial myology allows speech pathologists to effectively use differential diagnosis to determine the best care plan for their patients. Melissa Vagts, MSP, CCC-SLP, explains when a myofunctional approach would not be appropriate and the qualifications a patient needs to effectively participate in a myofunctional program. Melissa wraps up this episode by sharing ways knowledge of typical oromyofunction can allow SLPs to modify treatment approaches to include myofunctional concepts to support speech and swallowing skills.

About the Guest: Melissa Vagts, MSP, CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist and Associate Clinical Professor at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. She earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Carolina and brings 25 years of experience working with pediatric clients across outpatient clinics, public schools, and university settings. At Wichita State, Melissa teaches and supervises graduate students in the CSD MA-SLP program, with a focus on early intervention, speech sound disorders, pediatric feeding, and orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). In 2022, she developed and launched a graduate-level course on OMDs, which she teaches each summer. She also co-founded the Pediatric Feeding Group in 2019 to provide hands-on clinical training for SLP graduate students. Melissa is passionate about educating future clinicians and colleagues on the impact of OMDs on feeding and speech development. She has completed extensive continuing education in pediatric feeding, tethered oral tissues, and orofacial myofunctional therapy.

Show Notes:

Contact Melissa Vagts: Wichita State University Profile

Contact Madi Metcalf: LinkedIn

Wichita State University

Robyn Merkel-Walsh

Lori L. Overland

Hallie Bulkin

Tongue-Tied: Functional Assessment and Remediation of TOTs (Tethered Oral Tissues)

Amy Graham's Oral-Facial Exam

Autumn Reed Henning’s Protocol (TOTS Course)

Linda D'Onofrio

Making Sense of Myo: Introduction to Orofacial Myology with Linda D’Onofrio

Alabama Tongue-Tie Center

Feed the Peds

Char Boshart

Making Sense of Myo: The Orofacial Complex with Kristie Gatto

Making Sense of Myo: OMDs and Speech Sound Disorders with Dr. Angela McLeod

Pam Marshalla

ASHA Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

The Perfect Oral Motor Storm: What Happened, Why, and Supportive Evidence for Oral Sensory-Motor Therapy (Char Boshart)

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Dr. Elise Davis-McFarland on X

Dr. Elise Davis-McFarland on LinkedIn

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