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The Role of Nasal Resistance in Orofacial Development, Airway, Voice, and Sleep

Adult Airway and Sleep Disorders

Presented by: Laura Walls, MS, CCC-SLP

Original Publication Date: May 16, 2025 (2025 Live Webinar Series)

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Course Description:

This course explores the critical role of nasal breathing in airway health and its clinical implications for treatment planning. Participants will learn to differentiate nasal vs. mouth breathing, recognize the impact of nasal obstruction on airway function, voice, and facial development, and understand how posture and oral structures contribute to nasal resistance. The lecture also introduces objective, data-driven assessments—including MyoRhino™ evaluations and standardized questionnaires—to support accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies for patients with airway dysfunction.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the importance of nasal obstruction as it relates to treatment, and the Impact of nasal obstruction on airway function, voice, and facial development 
  2. The role of different postural types on the airway and how posture impacts airway function and flow creates resistance. 
  3. Explore different data-driven assessments for airway health and how to collect and interpret clinical data related to airway function.

Practical Applications:

  1. Apply nasal breathing assessments during routine exams to identify patients at risk for airway dysfunction.
  2. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to design integrated treatment plans that address structural and functional contributors to nasal resistance.
  3. Interpret objective diagnostic data to guide personalized interventions for patients with impaired nasal airflow or sleep-disordered breathing.

About the Speaker:

Laura Walls, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatric rehabilitation, myofunctional disorders, and airway diagnostics. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara and CSU Hayward, she has worked across diverse clinical settings—from the VA Hospital in San Francisco to NICUs—focusing on feeding, speech, and cognitive disorders. Laura is the creator of the My Mouthworks® Program and inventor of the FDA-cleared Oral Placement Appliance® (OPA). Her work integrates whole-body approaches to address sleep-disordered breathing, TMJD, and myofunctional concerns in both children and adults.

Conflict of Interest:

Owner/CEO at Innovative Oral Solutions and Innovative Therapy 4 Kids