MORE: Mouth, Oral, Respiration, Eyes - Online Course

By Patricia Oetter, MA, OTR, FAOTA
and Eileen Richter, MPH, OTR/L, FAOTA

Presented by Sensory Tools


The suck/swallow/breathe synchrony is one of the most primary and essential organizing sensory motor schemas available at birth. Study of this primitive sensory motor synchrony reveals pervasive influence on all areas of motor development and coordination, including oral motor, visual motor, eye-hand, and postural development; health, including digestion and elimination, upper respiratory health; visual and auditory perception; and psychosocial development including bonding, communication, peer interaction and interrelationships. 

Awareness of these influences opens the door to powerful strategies that support improved sensory motor, cognitive and psychosocial development. The information provides an excellent foundation for identifying central issues effecting sensory motor development and the other areas mentioned above. When applied knowledgeably, the strategies  outlined in the course increase treatment effectiveness and support more complex outcomes, i.e. social/emotional, cognitive development, etc.

Participants will:

  • Gain an understanding of how the SSB influences all aspects of development and function and is thus a critical element in dysfunction. 
  • Learn to identify even subtle dysfunction of the SSB synchrony by developing knowledge of typical and atypical function. 
  • Learn simple, inexpensive but efficient/effective treatment strategies that will impact all areas of development. 
  • Gain evaluation and treatment skills that will enhance intervention with a variety of populations and diagnoses. 


Participant Comments

  • “Very Good! Good practical examples so that I could make connections between what was discussed and my students I have in the classroom.” 
  • “Good take home ideas (and) info for tying it all together. Excellent course variety, lecture, slides, video, labs.” 
  • “. . .these principles are not taught or shared in any other course I have taken.  You are able to blend the science with the clinical application. Information was rich and robust. I am amazed how you both synthesize all this information into understandable pieces.”


This course highlights critical information and treatment strategies that all who work with individuals with developmental issues should know.

10.25 content hours – does not include participant lab time.

A critical course that will serve you well in your career

by Genevieve Jereb, OT

This is a much more critical course than people realise - in order to hold on to changes in regulation and integration we need to work on the 'tripod of the camera' - meaning THE CORE. At college we were taught that the core starts with proximal stability - but what you will learn in the MORE course is that you cannot ever get a core in the body if you don't have it in the mouth, you will never have good handwriting while you do not have stability in the mouth - try putting on mascara with a low-tone jaw - it’s impossible to have dexterity and mostly has nothing to do with the muscles in your fingers. Your core development starts in the mouth - think of all our kids who did not get a seal or who had feeding problems and so on. The MORE course also teaches extensively on respiration and posture - the two other elements that often throw us in treatment as therapists, when we get the comment "Why does this kid look worse after movement?" The majority of the time it is because they are not breathing efficiently. I believe this to be a key critical course that will serve you well in your career. I promise.

About The Instructors:

Patricia Oetter, MA, OTR, FAOTA

  • Master’s degree in Special Education
  • 40+ years working in schools, hospitals, camp and private practice; consultant
  • Co-author and contributor to professional books, and articles
  • International instructor on topics related to sensory integration, development


Eileen Richter, MA, OT, FAOTA

  • Master of Public Health degree in Maternal & Child Health
  • 40+ years working in schools, hospitals, camp and private practice
  • Co-author and contributor to professional books, articles and research
  • International instructor on topics related to sensory integration, development

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Welcome to MORE ONLINE

    • MORE Overview
  • 2

    Module 1 Appendix

    • Appendix
  • 3

    Module 1A: Introduction to the Suck, Swallow, Breathe (SSB) Model

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 4

    Module 1B: Clinical Reasoning & Functional Anatomy

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 5

    Module 1C: Neurological Substrates of the Suck/Swallow/Breathe Synergy

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 6

    Module 2 Appendix

    • Appendix
  • 7

    Module 2A: Oral Motor Components -- Functional Anatomy of Sucking & Swallowing

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 8

    Module 2B: The SSB Synchrony – Feeding and Eating

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 9

    Module 2C: Taste, Texture, Fit Practicum

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 10

    Module 2D: Oral Motor Assessment Issues

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 11

    Module 2E: Oral Motor Treatment Strategies Practicum

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 12

    Module 2F: Postural Development

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 13

    Module 3 Appendix

    • Appendix
  • 14

    Module 3A: The Relationship of Respiration to Function

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 15

    Module 3B: Biomechanics and Development of Respiration

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 16

    Module 3C: Blow Toys Practicum

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 17

    Module 3D: Assessment of Respiratory Function

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 18

    Module 3E: Hands on Respiration Practicum

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 19

    Module 3F: Functional Respiratory Treatment

    • About This Module

    • Handouts

    • Video
  • 20

    Conclusion

    • Bibliography

    • Course Evaluation