Episode 18 of Airway Answers: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation & OSA w/ Dr. Pat McBride, PhD, CCSH

Welcome to the "Airway Answers: Expanding your Breath of Knowledge" with Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM®. How much do you know about Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (Inspire) as one treatment for OSA? This podcast explores all of the details about hypoglossal nerve stimulation from an expert including:

✅ What it is
✅ How it is installed
✅ How it works
✅ Who qualifies for it
✅ Who cannot get this type of treatment
✅ Is it covered by insurance
✅ Can it be used as combination therapy
✅ Is it a last resort after people have tried oral appliances, CPAP, etc.
✅ Side effects or other issues
✅ How many people are using this currently
✅ …and much more…

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Pat has spent 41 years as a full-time clinician and educator in the fields of dentistry, respiratory medicine and sleep medicine. Her extensive experience in clinical, laboratory, research and educational arenas has led to the development of interdisciplinary care model delivery systems used by physicians and dentists around the globe. Pat’s publications span both medical and psychosocial spectrums. She has a unique ability to intervene in the interstices of global systems, developing protocols which can be translated across demographics and cultures into improved clinical outcomes. She sits on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry in New York, and AAPMD’s Endeavour Pediatric Community. She continues to work hands on in a clinical setting and as the Executive Director for The Foundation for Airway Health while lecturing internationally on subjects relating to breathing and sleep medicine, dentistry and precision medicine systems to best benefit all patient populations. Serving the underserved and marginalized patient remains a passion and priority for her.
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ABOUT THE HOST:

Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM® is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, an International speaker, author, Ambassador for the Breathe Institute, a Talk Tools educational partner, and has served on the faculty for the Sleep Education Consortium and Airway, Sleep, and Pediatrics Pathway (ASAP) program.

Nicole has completed over 50 presentations nationally and internationally to medical and dental professionals, graduate school residents, and the general public on orofacial myofunctional therapy as it relates to sleep-disordered breathing in both children and adults.

She is the author of a 2023 article in Dental Sleep Practice Magazine “Why Every Dentist and Orthodontist Should Have an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist on Their Team”.

Nicole also wrote an article for Sleep World Magazine for sleep MDs, respiratory technicians, and other sleep specialists titled “How to Restore Proper Rest: How orofacial myofunctional therapy can aid in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing”, published 8/2024.

She is also the author of a two-part chapter on orofacial myofunctional therapy in a medical textbook “Growing Into Breathing Problems: The Collaborative Quest For Lifetime Solutions” with the world renowned editors Dr. David Gozal, MD, Dr. Bill Harrell (orthodontist), and Dr. David McIntosh (ENT).

Nicole is the author of a children’s book series “The Adventures of Captain Airway and Mr. Mighty Mouth”, helping to bring airway insight to young children, their parents, teachers, and other medical professionals.

She is on the Child Airway Initiative Task Force (CAST), which is a national team of doctors, dentists, and orthodontists developing a universal screening tool for all dentists to use to screen patients for sleep-disordered breathing as per the 10/2017 American Dental Association proposal that all dentists should screen all patients for sleep-disordered breathing.

Nicole is the owner of San Diego Center For Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy. She currently serves as a mentor and consultant to patients, professionals, and colleagues nationally and internationally in the field of orofacial myofunctional therapy. Nicole’s life-long quest is to help in the early identification and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing and airway issues.

Follow her Facebook: San Diego Center for Speech Therapy

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