Dates: August 13, 20, 27, and September 3, 2026

Description: Feeding, breathing, and speech are not separate systems—they are deeply interwoven neurobiological processes shaped by anatomy, regulation, sensory experience, and relational safety. This advanced four-part webinar series explores the complex integration of oral-motor development, feeding challenges, selective eating, trauma, and emerging speech through a neurodevelopmental and regulation-based lens. Participants will dive into the neuroanatomy of breathing and swallowing, vagal regulation, sensory-motor foundations, trauma-driven feeding patterns (including food hoarding), and the intricate links between oral motor control and speech clarity. Each session integrates assessment interpretation with intervention strategies clinicians can apply immediately. Grounded in nervous system science and relationship-based practice, this series supports clinicians in moving beyond symptom management toward root-cause understanding and integrated treatment design. 

Outline / Agenda: Thursdays from 2 to 3.30 pm US ET each day

Session 1: August 13, 2026,              Neuroanatomy of Breath, Swallow, and Voice

• The structural and neurological foundations
• Brainstem organization: medulla, pons, cranial nerve nuclei
• Cranial nerves involved in feeding and speech (V, VII, IX, X, XI, XII)
• The swallow-breathe synchrony cycle and more…
• Integrated Intervention

Session 2: August 20, 2026,             Oral-Motor Foundations for Feeding and Speech Development

• Sensory-motor integration and praxis
• Oral sensory mapping (lips, tongue, jaw, cheeks, palate)
• Jaw stability and grading and more….
• Integrated Intervention

Session 3: August 27, 2026,             Selective Feeding, ARFID and Sensory-Based Eating Challenges

• Moving beyond “picky eating”
• Differential diagnosis: sensory aversion vs. oral motor delay vs. anxiety vs. GI discomfort
• Interoception and hunger signaling and more……
• Integrated Intervention

Session 4: September 3, 2026,       Trauma, Food Hoarding and Relational Feeding Dynamics

• Feeding as a survival behavior
• Trauma’s impact on appetite and digestion
• Hypervigilance and food insecurity imprinting and more…..
• Integrated Intervention

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the neuroanatomical structures and physiological mechanisms involved in breathing, swallowing, and phonation, including the role of cranial nerves and autonomic regulation in feeding and speech function
2. Differentiate between oral-motor, sensory-based, trauma-related, and medically driven feeding challenges to support accurate clinical reasoning and treatment planning
3. Evaluate selective feeding patterns, including ARFID presentations and trauma-related food hoarding behaviors, through a regulation-based and relational lens
4. Design integrated, evidence-informed intervention strategies that address oral-motor control, respiratory coordination, sensory processing, and relational safety within feeding and speech therapy contexts.

Assessment: Feedback form and 15 questions

Research:

1. Hübl, N., Hasmann, J., Riebold, B., Kaufmann, N., & Seidl, R. O. (2025). Effect of feeding in elevated side-lying and paced bottle feeding on swallow-breathe coordination in healthy preterm infants – First results. Early Human Development, 201, 106184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106184
2. Zhao, S., Jiang, H., Miao, Y., Liu, W., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Wang, A., & Cui, X. (2024). Effects of implementing non-nutritive sucking on oral feeding progression and outcomes in preterm infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 19(4), e0302267. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302267
3. Sanchez-Cerezo, J., Neale, J., Julius, N., Croudace, T., Lynn, R. M., Hudson, L. D., & Nicholls, D. (2024). Subtypes of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in children and adolescents: A latent class analysis. eClinicalMedicine, 68, 102440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102440
4. Close, H., Vincent, S., Alderson, H., Wilson-Harrop, C., Allen, S., Waters, G. M., Hanson, S., Pepper, G. V., & Neave, N. (2024). What do we know about hoarding behaviors among care-experienced children (CEC)? A systematic review. Cogent Psychology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2024.2416757

Certificate of attendance will be provided for all and AOTA CE Certificate for Occupational Therapists. Awaiting approval.

Provider Name: The Maude Le Roux Academy

Presenter: Maude Le Roux, OTR/L, SIPT, ADHD-RSP, DIR Champion and Expert Training Leader

Bio: Maude Le Roux is a global trainer in multiple methodologies and a mentor to therapists from multidisciplinary teams. She opened her practice, A Total Approach in Glen Mills, PA, USA in 2001. Maude started her training career in 2007 and opened her online academy in 2019. She has designed the Developmental Pathways Model (DPM), which she applies to her own unique assessment and intervention protocol for major diagnosis such as Dyspraxia, ADHD and Executive Functions, Autism, Reading and Writing Disorders, and Trauma and Attachment. Maude served 9 years on the Board of Directors for ATTACh and currently serves on their Advisory Board. She also serves on the Advisory Board for LSWorks (Neuralign program). She is a co-author of two books and more recently wrote a chapter on Trauma and the Body in “Healing Connections” which launched in September 2024. Maude received an award for “Continued child advocacy” through the ATTACh organization in September 2024. She also received the Champion Award through ICDL in November 2024. Maude has a “whole child” approach to care and intervention and equipping the child, while empowering the parent is at the core of who she is as a clinician and trainer.

Special Needs Accommodation: We invite anyone who may need a specific accommodation to contact [email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Cancellation Policy:

Payment is due in full upon registration. Contact [email protected] for any questions in this regard.

• Cancellations up to 30 days prior: $25 administration fee
• Cancellations up to 2 weeks prior: 25% fee
• Cancellations within 2 weeks of event: 50% fee
  For questions, please email [email protected]

Target Audience: Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Educators

Educational Level: Intermediary to Advanced

Instructional Methods: PowerPoint, Group Discussion, Video

Contact Hours: 6 hours

Fee: $245

 Maude and Charl Le Roux own the Maude Le Roux Academy and thus the proceeds of this course will cover operational expenses as well as provide income for Maude and Charl Le Roux.