
Episode #78
Ep. 78: "Tongue-Tie: What Every Parent & Professional Should Know with Autumn Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, COM, IBCLC"
What should parents and healthcare professionals really know about tongue-tie? In this episode of Airway Answers, Nicole Goldfarb interviews Autumn Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, COMยฎ, IBCLC, one of the leading educators in tethered oral tissues (TOTs), infant feeding, and orofacial myofunctional disorders. Together, we explore how to evaluate tongue-tie across the lifespan, what makes an infant feeding evaluation unique, why function matters more than anatomy alone, and how thoughtful interdisciplinary care can improve outcomes for both children and adults. Autumn also shares her insights on therapeutic readiness before a frenectomy, post-release care, common misconceptions about tongue-tie, and what every parent and healthcare professional should know. In this episode, we discuss: Tongue-tie โข Tethered oral tissues (TOTs) โข Infant feeding โข Breastfeeding โข IBCLC โข Orofacial myofunctional disorders โข Myofunctional therapy โข Therapeutic readiness โข Frenectomy โข HOPE Healing Protocol โข Airway health โข Interdisciplinary care โธป CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet Autumn Henning, SLP, COMยฎ, IBCLC 0:33 Autumnโs Background and Clinical Specialties 1:52 Autumnโs Bio and Areas of Expertise 4:35 How Autumn Became Passionate About Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) 9:45 The Oral Function Trifecta & Becoming an IBCLC 16:11 What Happens During an Infant Tongue-Tie Evaluation? 34:05 Jaw and Tongue Mechanics During Breastfeeding 37:00 Tongue-Tie vs. Other Breastfeeding Challenges 38:56 Why Lip Ties Rarely Exist Without Tongue-Ties 40:45 Evaluating Tongue-Tie Across the Lifespan 42:11 Preparing for a Successful Tongue-Tie Release 45:46 Aftercare and the HOPE Healing Protocol 1:02:13 Busting Common Tongue-Tie Myths 1:06:12 Autumnโs Courses & Where to Learn More โธป If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and share it with colleagues interested in airway health and orofacial myofunctional therapy. What surprised you most about this conversation? Leave a comment belowโwe would love to hear your thoughts and questions! Subscribe to the Airway Answers YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AirwayAnswers Prefer to listen? Subscribe to the Audio Podcast: https://airwayanswers.buzzsprout.com/2408017/follow โธป About Autumn Henning Autumn R. Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, COMยฎ, IBCLC, is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologistยฎ, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, educator, and founder of Chrysalis Orofacial in Greenville, South Carolina. She specializes in evaluating and treating tethered oral tissues, infant feeding, swallowing, and orofacial myofunctional disorders across the lifespan. Autumn also serves as a voluntary Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and was a founding board member of the International Consortium for Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP). Through her internationally recognized continuing education programsโincluding TOTSยฎ (Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training), Plot the TOTยฎ, The STONES Approachยฎ, and the E3 Model of Careยฎโshe has educated thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide, emphasizing functional assessment, critical clinical reasoning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-informed care. โธป About Nicole Goldfarb Nicole Goldfarb, M.A., CCC-SLP, COMยฎ, is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, international speaker, educator, podcast host, and founder of the San Diego Center for Speech & Myofunctional Therapy. โธป Airway Answers: www.AirwayAnswers.info San Diego Center for Speech & Myofunctional Therapy: www.SanDiegoCenterForSpeechTherapy.com Email: Nicole@AirwayAnswers.info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565074499503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiegospeechandmyotherapy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airway.answers โธป #TongueTie #InfantFeeding #AirwayHealth #Breastfeeding #IBCLC #MyofunctionalTherapy #TetheredOralTissues #TOTs #Frenectomy #AirwayAnswers โธป โ ๏ธ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical or dental advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding diagnosis or treatment. Reliance on the information presented is at your own risk. Mention of specific providers, products, or services does not constitute an endorsement.





