Interactive Guide · No. 01
Could These Signs Be Connected?
A Parent's Interactive Guide to Oral Habits, Breathing, and Speech Development
Have you ever noticed something about your child and wondered if it could be connected to something else?
Maybe your child sleeps with their mouth open. Maybe speech sounds are still tricky. Or maybe you've been trying to help them stop sucking their thumb.
Sometimes these concerns overlap. Sometimes they don't.
This guide will help you take a closer look, learn what questions to ask, and decide where to start.
You don't need to figure everything out today. Let's start with what you've noticed.
Meet your guide
Hi, I'm Amanda!
I'm Amanda Mavrakos, M.S., CCC-SLP. I'm a pediatric speech-language pathologist, an orofacial myofunctional therapist, and the owner of Salt & Light Speech-Language Resources in the Birmingham, Alabama area.
Along with my training in speech and language, I've completed additional professional training in oral habits, tongue function, tongue ties, and airway-related concerns.
Every week, I work with families who are trying to make sense of concerns that don't always seem connected. I created this guide to make that process a little easier—with clear information, practical tips, and a place to begin.
Let's Look at What You're Seeing
Below are some things parents often notice. Check anything you've seen with your child. You can check as many or as few as you like.
This isn't a test, and there isn't a magic number of boxes you need to check.
Save what you noticed
Take Your Notes With You
Sometimes it's hard to remember everything you wanted to mention once you're sitting in an appointment.
Let's make that part easier.
What I've noticed
You haven't checked anything yet, and that's okay. You can go back to the checklist any time, or print the general questions below.
These are observations, not a diagnosis.
Questions to ask my provider
- Could this habit be affecting my child's teeth or how their mouth works?
- Should we look more closely at my child's breathing during sleep?
- What could be making these sounds hard, and would a closer look at tongue function help?
My own questions or notes
This resource is for educational purposes only. It does not provide a diagnosis or replace individualized medical, dental, or speech-language care. Please discuss concerns about your child's health or development with a qualified professional.
Ready to go a little deeper?
You've noticed the signs. Now let's make sense of the bigger picture.
Maybe this guide helped you spot a pattern. Maybe it gave you a few new questions you didn't have before.
That's a great place to be. But searching online for answers can take hours, and it can leave you more confused than when you started.
That's why I created The Root Cause Course. It brings clinically informed education together in one organized place, so you can learn at your own pace from a pediatric speech-language pathologist who works with these concerns every week.
The course includes five self-paced modules and practical downloadable resources you can come back to any time.
- Understand oral habits and why they may matter
- Learn more about mouth breathing, tongue function, and tongue ties
- Recognize when professional guidance may be helpful
- Feel more informed and prepared to ask questions and advocate for your child
You don't need to become an expert. You just need a clearer place to start.
Explore The Root Cause CourseOne Last Thing Before You Go
If there's one thing I hope you take from this guide, it's that you don't have to figure everything out at once.
Pay attention to what you're seeing. Write down your questions. And don't be afraid to ask for help when something keeps bothering you.
Small steps matter, and learning more is a great place to begin.
With blessings,
Amanda
Amanda Mavrakos, M.S., CCC-SLP
Salt & Light Speech-Language Resources
saltandlight-slp.com
This guide is for education only. It does not diagnose a condition or replace care from a qualified medical, dental, or speech-language professional. If you have concerns about your child's health or development, speak with an appropriate provider.