Tip of the Tongue Speech Therapy and Lactation Consulting

Tip of the Tongue Speech Therapy and Lactation Consulting Supporting feeding, speech, sleep and oral function from infancy to adulthood. Myofunctional 🔹 Lactation 🔹Tongue Tie Care

Mouth breathing can seem like a small habit, but when it’s happening consistently, we want to understand why.Ideally, br...
09/03/2026

Mouth breathing can seem like a small habit, but when it’s happening consistently, we want to understand why.

Ideally, breathing happens through the nose with the lips comfortably closed and the tongue resting up against the roof of the mouth. When a child is regularly breathing through their mouth, the tongue often rests low instead - and that can change the functional environment in which the face, jaws, and palate are developing.

Over time, these patterns may be associated with changes in palate development, dental crowding, facial growth, sleep quality, and overall oral function.

And this isn’t something we only look at in children. We work with myofunctional concerns from childhood through adulthood. Adults who have been mouth breathing for years may also experience concerns with sleep, jaw tension, tongue posture, swallowing, or simply feeling like nasal breathing doesn’t come naturally.

But our goal isn’t simply to tell someone to “close their mouth and breathe through their nose.” We want to understand what is driving the mouth breathing in the first place.

Through a myofunctional assessment, we look at breathing patterns, tongue posture and mobility, lip closure, swallowing, oral structures, speech placement and clarity and other factors that may be contributing. When appropriate, myofunctional therapy can then help retrain nasal breathing, tongue resting posture, and the oral patterns that support healthy function.

If you’ve noticed that you or your child consistently breathes through the mouth, during the day, while sleeping, or both, a myofunctional assessment can be a helpful place to start.

Tongue tie is one of the most talked-about topics in infant feeding right now and also one of the most misunderstood.At ...
08/27/2026

Tongue tie is one of the most talked-about topics in infant feeding right now and also one of the most misunderstood.

At our clinic, we don’t believe every tongue tie needs to be released. But we also don’t believe tongue and lip ties should simply be dismissed.

We believe function tells the story.

We look at how the tongue moves, where it rests, how it coordinates during feeding and swallowing, and whether a restriction is actually interfering with what the body needs to do.

A frenum can look short or tight and still be functioning well. That is very different from a restriction that is contributing to difficulty transferring milk, managing the airway, coordinating feeding, or settling comfortably after feeds.

And when it comes to a release, timing matters.

Because our clinic works with tongue and lip ties from infancy through adulthood, we also know something important: it is never “too late” to address function. The right timing isn’t necessarily the earliest timing. It’s the timing that makes sense for that individual, their symptoms, their readiness, and the support they have in place before and after a release.

Our role is not to convince families to release—or not to release. Our role is to assess function, help families understand what we’re seeing, discuss their options, and fully support the decision they make from there.

If you’ve been told your baby has a tongue or lip tie and you’re unsure what to do next, a functional assessment is a really helpful place to start.

When it comes to tongue and lip ties, our job is not to convince you to choose a release. Our job is to help you unders...
08/21/2026

When it comes to tongue and lip ties, our job is not to convince you to choose a release. Our job is to help you understand function, give you meaningful information, and support you in making the decision that feels right for your family.

We know the conversation around tongue ties can feel overwhelming. Families are often receiving conflicting information, sometimes with very strong opinions on both sides. We want our clinic to be a place where you can slow that conversation down and understand what is actually happening for you or your child.

When we identify a restricted frenum, we look beyond what it looks like. Function tells the story.

We’ll talk about what we’re seeing, how the tongue or lip is functioning, what concerns may be related to the restriction, what a release may help with and importantly, what it may not change. We’ll also talk about timing, readiness, other treatment options, and what waiting might look like.

For some families, moving toward a release makes sense. Others may choose lactation or feeding support, myofunctional therapy, manual therapy, or other collaborative care first. Some families need more time. Others decide to monitor function and see how things develop.

There is no one pathway that is right for every person or every family.

And because we work with tongue and lip ties from infancy through adulthood, we know that timing is individual. A decision doesn’t have to be made out of fear that you’re going to “miss your chance.”
Our role is to assess, educate, collaborate with your care team when needed, and make sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision.

No pressure. No agenda. Just support, wherever your decision takes you. 🤍

Many families come to us weeks, or even months, into a feeding journey after being told that everything looks normal.And...
08/13/2026

Many families come to us weeks, or even months, into a feeding journey after being told that everything looks normal.

And sometimes, by certain measures, it does. Baby is gaining weight, and milk supply is adequate. But those milestones don't always tell the whole story.

Optimal feeding is about more than just weight gain...It's about how it feels for both of you. It looks like a comfortable latch, efficient milk transfer, a baby who settles well after feeds, and a parent who can feed without pain and recover in between. When those pieces aren't in place, it's worth understanding why.

An early postpartum lactation consultation can provide reassurance when things are going well or identify challenges before they become weeks of uncertainty and exhaustion. Addressing concerns early often makes them easier to manage.

We also offer prenatal lactation consultations for families who want to feel informed and prepared before their baby arrives. You don't have to wait until something feels wrong to seek support.

Most people who come to us have never heard of myofunctional therapy before—and that's okay!Orofacial myofunctional ther...
08/06/2026

Most people who come to us have never heard of myofunctional therapy before—and that's okay!

Orofacial myofunctional therapy is an evidence-based approach that focuses on improving the function of the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and face. Through individualized exercises and habit retraining, we help optimize breathing, swallowing, chewing, speech, and resting oral posture.

Every treatment plan is tailored to the individual because every person presents differently. You might be seeking answers for a child who mouth breathes or snores, a teen with a tongue thrust that's affecting orthodontic treatment, an adult experiencing jaw pain or disrupted sleep, or concerns that have persisted despite being told to "wait and see."

At Tip of the Tongue, we look beyond individual symptoms to understand the whole picture. Our goal is to identify how oral function may be contributing to your concerns and develop an evidence-based treatment plan that supports lasting improvements in health and quality of life.

If you've been wondering whether myofunctional therapy might be right for you or your child, we'd be happy to help you explore your options.

Meet Daniel DeSantis, one of the Registered Speech-Language Pathologists on our team. ✨Daniel works alongside Karrie sup...
07/30/2026

Meet Daniel DeSantis, one of the Registered Speech-Language Pathologists on our team. ✨

Daniel works alongside Karrie supporting families across speech, feeding, and myofunctional concerns from childhood through adulthood, bringing the same function-first, whole-person approach that defines care at Tip of the Tongue. Whether it's a child working through a speech delay or an adult exploring oral function for the first time, Daniel takes the time to look at the full picture before deciding on a plan.

If you're in Red Deer or Sylvan Lake and looking for a team that truly listens, Daniel would love to meet you and your family.

You’ve been told everything looks fine—but something still feels off. 💡That instinct matters.Many families who come to u...
07/28/2026

You’ve been told everything looks fine—but something still feels off. 💡

That instinct matters.

Many families who come to us have already seen multiple providers, been reassured that their baby is growing well, or told that things will improve with time and that their baby will “grow out of it.” And while reassurance can be helpful, ongoing feeding discomfort, mouth breathing, speech delays, and disrupted sleep are all signs worth looking into—not simply waiting on.

At Tip of the Tongue, we look at function as a whole. In feeding, for example, we expect to see a comfortable latch, efficient milk transfer, a baby who settles well after feeds, and a parent who is not in pain. When those pieces aren’t lining up, it’s worth taking a closer look to understand what may be contributing.

If you’ve been told everything is fine but something still doesn’t feel right, we’d be happy to talk. A clarity call is often a helpful first step.

One of the things we hear most often after a first appointment is, “I wish I had come sooner.”Not because there was a mi...
07/23/2026

One of the things we hear most often after a first appointment is, “I wish I had come sooner.”

Not because there was a missed clinical deadline—there usually isn’t one with the kinds of concerns we see—but because families often spend weeks or months sitting in uncertainty, wondering if what they’re noticing is significant or something they should just wait out.

We understand why that happens. It can feel like you’re overthinking, or like you’ve already been reassured that everything is fine, or like you should give it more time. And in many cases, families have already done a tremendous amount of trying before they arrive here—reading, adjusting, following up, and advocating for their child or themselves more than once.

That effort matters.

Our role is to meet you there: to listen carefully, assess thoroughly, and connect symptoms with clear, evidence-based clinical reasoning so you leave with something concrete to work with—not more uncertainty.

There’s no wrong time to ask for a clearer picture.

Meet Sarah Roadhouse, our Certified Lactation Counsellor. ✨Sarah has been supporting families at Tip of the Tongue since...
07/16/2026

Meet Sarah Roadhouse, our Certified Lactation Counsellor. ✨

Sarah has been supporting families at Tip of the Tongue since 2022, helping parents navigate the joys and challenges of infant feeding with compassion, knowledge, and encouragement.

As a mom of four and former La Leche League Leader, Sarah brings both lived experience and years of supporting breastfeeding families. She understands that every feeding journey is unique and believes every parent deserves to feel heard, supported, and confident in their feeding decisions.

Sarah often provides the first point of care for families, offering comprehensive lactation assessments and prenatal consultations. She takes the time to listen, understand your concerns, and provide individualized, evidence-informed support tailored to your family's goals. When additional assessment or interdisciplinary care is needed, she works closely with our team to ensure families receive the right support at the right time.

Sarah sees families in both our Red Deer and Sylvan Lake clinics, with virtual lactation consultations available throughout Alberta.

✨ No referral is needed, and many extended health benefit plans include coverage for lactation consulting.

Feeding your baby is a journey, and for many families, it isn't as straightforward as they expected.If breastfeeding is ...
07/14/2026

Feeding your baby is a journey, and for many families, it isn't as straightforward as they expected.

If breastfeeding is painful, your baby is having difficulty latching, feeds seem to take forever, or you're worried they're not getting enough, it's important to know that these challenges often have an underlying reason. Every feeding dyad is unique, and understanding why feeding isn't going as expected is the first step toward finding the right support.

At Tip of the Tongue, our lactation consultations look beyond individual symptoms to understand the whole picture. We combine careful listening with evidence-based clinical reasoning to assess both parent and baby, identify factors that may be impacting feeding, and develop an individualized plan that supports your family's goals.

Whether the challenge is positioning, milk transfer, oral function, or another contributing factor, we're here to help you understand what's happening and guide you with compassionate, personalized care.

Address

Red Deer, AB

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 8:30am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+14033911413

Website

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