Book Review: Functional Remediation and Assessment of TOTs

 

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen the stories where I talk about my sweet baby and his tongue tie. If not, let me recap: 

My son was born in May 2020 with a Class IV tongue and lip tie. I knew it after the first terrible breast feeding experience. The location consultant confirmed it. Breast feeding was TERRIBLE. We got home and things weren't getting any better. His pediatrician wouldn't refer us to an ENT because "tongue ties don't affect feeding." <Insert giant eye roll here> Anyway, I knew an amazing pediatric dentist, but our state had dentist offices shut down due to COVID at that time. Eight long weeks later, we finally were able to get it taken care of when the dentist offices opened back up. By that time, my breast feeding journey was over. I was pumping and giving him milk in a bottle. 

As a speech language pathologist, I knew the affects that tongue/lip ties could have on speech and feeding. But I learned so much more after going through the experience with our son. Did you know a tongue tie can cause sleep apnea? And don't even get me started on all the things the dentist educated us about regarding dentition and jaw development. I am forever thankful that we got it taken care of early. 

But all that lead me to want to learn more and more about Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs). I've taken more continuing education courses on the subject. The pediatric physical therapists and speech language pathologists in my hospital are campaigning for a program that would allow us to screen all newborns for tongue/lip tie & torticollis before they even leave the hospital. 

So through all of that, I was lead to this book. Functional Remediation and Assessment of TOTs by Lori L. Overland and Robyn Merkel-Walsh (affiliate link). And it is amazing! After I finished the book, I ordered some tools on TalkTools website and immediately felt much more prepared to assess TOTs, educate parents, and provide support. Most of the kids I see with TOTs are already in preschool and struggling with articulation. The book provides resources and assessment strategies, complete with pictures to guide you through the assessment process. Furthermore, it discussed assessment of functional skills needed for feeding, drinking, and speech. The charts are quite handy for identifying areas of concern based on the habits/behaviors the client is exhibiting. 

A pattern I have noticed with many of my patients that do get tongue tie revision is that there is minimal follow up afterwards. Luckily, the pediatric dentist my son went to provided us with exercises to do post-operatively. Then she assessed him after he was healed to make sure that range of motion and functionality had improved. Most of my patients are not getting this follow up care from their ENTs/Dentists (unfortunately, our dentist doesn't take medical card and most private insurances won't cover it - so it's not an option for many of my patients). Anyway, I feel like this leaves me as their primary source for follow up care - and I didn't feel prepared for that. But, after reading this book, I feel much more prepared! And if I don't know the answer, I certainly know where I can find it! 

My rating: 5/5 stars! Add it to your professional library now!