The Pervasive Impact of Breath on Function: What To Know, What To Do

Course overview

Breath has not always been a focus in pediatric treatment. New information is shedding light on how respiration impacts many aspects of development. It is therefore necessary for us to take a more in-depth and active approach to breathing function in our clients with regulatory, sensory processing, and/or sensory-motor dysfunction. Current study of breathing restrictions, be they structural, functional or the result of trauma or allergies, is identifying associations with regulatory disorders such as sleep apnea, sleep patterns, ADD, and ADHD. There is also a high correlation with respiratory dysfunction and dysfunction in feeding (ingestion, digestion, and elimination), postural foundations, endurance, and precision for skilled motor outcomes. This workshop will emphasize the process of respiratory development, from in utero on, as it relates to typical and atypical sensory processing and sensory-motor processing and development. We will discuss how this applies to the assessment and treatment of pediatric clients with varied diagnoses. Using lectures, slides videos, we will explore assessment and treatment options to address various dysfunctional respiratory patterns.