Oral rest posture—specifically the habitual position of the tongue—plays a pivotal role in craniofacial growth, airway patency, and the development of speech and language skills. When the tongue rests low or forward in the mouth, or the lips remain parted, it can disrupt normal maxillofacial development, contributing to narrow palates, open bites, and altered mandibular growth patterns. These structural changes can, in turn, affect the integrity of the during sleep, increasing risk for sleep-disordered breathing and mouth breathing behaviors that perpetuate maladaptive oral postures and growth.

This presentation explores the interrelationship between oral rest posture, jaw development, sleep quality, and speech-language outcomes across pediatric populations. Emphasis will be placed on the underlying causes—such as tethered oral tissues, chronic nasal obstruction, and poor oral-motor habits—and the cascading effects these have on articulation, resonance, and orofacial muscle tone. Through a multidisciplinary lens, attendees will gain an understanding of how speech-language pathologists, dental professionals, Ear Nose Throat specialists and myofunctional therapists can collaborate to identify, assess, and intervene early.

Grace Darley, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist and founder of Cypress Speech Therapy, a private practice based in Central Texas, USA. With over six years of clinical experience, Grace specializes in pediatric speech, language, and oral myofunctional therapy, focusing on how breathing and oral rest posture influence jaw development, sleep quality, and speech production. Her work combines evidence-based practice with a holistic understanding of orofacial growth and function. Grace has extensive experience helping children with articulation, feeding, and airway-related challenges, guiding families to uncover and treat the root causes of communication and sleep difficulties rather than just the symptoms.

She is passionate about empowering families through education and early intervention, emphasizing the connection between healthy oral habits, nasal breathing, and speech development. Grace’s approach bridges the gap between speech-language pathology, airway health, and myofunctional science, encouraging collaboration among dental, medical, and therapy professionals to achieve lasting, whole-body outcomes.