Episode 17 of Airway Answers: "The Airway, Sleep, and Pediatrics Pathway (ASAP) Founders"

Welcome to the "Airway Answers: Expanding your Breath of Knowledge" with Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM®.  In this episode, Nicole interviews the founders of Airway, Sleep, and Pediatrics Pathway (ASAP). In this conversation, Dr. Stacey Ochoa, Dr. Michelle Weddle, and Dr. Tracy Nguyen discuss their backgrounds and experiences in the field of airway and pediatric dentistry. They introduce ASAP, a collaborative effort to address airway issues in children. The speakers share their personal aha moments in understanding the importance of airway health and the impact it can have on overall well-being. They also discuss common misconceptions in the field and emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to treatment. The conversation concludes with a focus on early intervention and treatment options for young children. This conversation covers the impact of sleep on children's health, the importance of starting sleep management at a young age, the relationship between restless leg syndrome and ferritin levels, the use of Invisalign for children, the role of function as the primary appliance, considerations for mandibular advancement devices in adults, and an introduction to ASAP (Airway Sleep and Pediatric Pathway).  The ASAP Pathway program was created by Dr. Stacy Ochoa, Dr. Michelle Weddle, and Dr. Tracey Nguyen. They developed an entire system for managing the pediatric airway and sleep pathway, which they use in their own practices.
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 ABOUT THE HOST:
Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM® is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, International speaker, author, Ambassador for the Breathe Institute, a Talk Tools educational partner, and she has served on the faculty for the Sleep Education Consortium and the Airway, Sleep, and Pediatrics Pathway (ASAP) program. She has completed over 50 presentations nationally and internationally on orofacial myofunctional therapy as it relates to sleep-disordered breathing in both children and adults. Nicole is the author of the following: 2023 article in Dental Sleep Practice Magazine “Why Every Dentist and Orthodontist Should Have an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist on Their Team”; 2024 article in Sleep World Magazine for sleep MDs, respiratory technicians, and other sleep specialists titled “How to Restore Proper Rest: How orofacial myofunctional therapy can aid in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing”; a two-part chapter on orofacial myofunctional therapy in a 2024 medical textbook “Growing Into Breathing Problems: The Collaborative Quest For Lifetime Solutions” with world renowned editors; and a children’s book series “The Adventures of Captain Airway and Mr. Mighty Mouth” helping to bring airway insight to young children, their parents, teachers, and other medical professionals.  She serves on the Child Airway Initiative Task Force (CAST), which is a national team of doctors, dentists, and orthodontists developing a universal screening tool for all dentists to use to screen patients for sleep-disordered breathing.  Nicole is the owner of San Diego Center For Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy. She currently serves as a mentor and consultant to patients, professionals, and colleagues nationally and internationally in the field of orofacial myofunctional therapy.  Nicole’s life-long quest is to help in the early identification and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing and airway issues. For more on Nicole, visit her practice: www.sandiegocenterforspeechtherapy.com. Follow her Facebook: San Diego Center for Speech Therapy.