Episode 7 | The Pediatric Breathing Project
Speech, Tongue Ties & Airway Health with Courtney Scaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP

In this episode of The Pediatric Breathing Project, Dr. Piya Gandhi sits down with Courtney Scaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech language pathologist and founder of Space City Speech, to explore the critical connection between speech development, oral function, tongue ties, myofunctional therapy, and pediatric airway health.

Together, they discuss how airway issues can show up in speech patterns, why narrow palates and oral restrictions can affect articulation, when speech therapy may need deeper structural support, and how collaboration between dentists, speech therapists, ENTs, occupational therapists, and myofunctional therapists can create better outcomes for children.

They also cover early speech milestones, red flags parents should watch for, prolonged thumb sucking and oral habits, when therapy may be plateauing, how to know when it’s time to dig deeper, and what both parents and providers should look for in a truly collaborative care team.

Whether you’re a parent navigating speech concerns or a provider interested in interdisciplinary airway care, this episode offers practical insights into how these systems are deeply connected.

In This Episode We Cover:

✔ How speech and airway health are connected
✔ Tongue ties, oral restrictions and articulation
✔ When speech delays may signal deeper functional issues
✔ Narrow palates and their effect on speech sounds
✔ Myofunctional therapy vs traditional speech therapy
✔ Thumb sucking, oral habits and tongue posture
✔ When therapy plateaus and what to do next
✔ Early speech milestones and red flags
✔ Why pediatric airway treatment requires a team approach
✔ What providers should look for in collaborative referrals

Connect with Courtney Scaggs

🌐 Space City Speech
https://spacecityspeech.com/about-dr-courtney-scaggs/

📱 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/spacecityspeech/

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The Pediatric Breathing Project with Dr. Piya Gandhi explores how airway health, jaw development, and sleep impact childhood wellness. Parents and practitioners will learn to spot early signs of sleep-disordered breathing and discover practical solutions for healthier futures.

If you’re a parent, dentist, pediatrician, or healthcare professional passionate about giving children the best start in life, this podcast is your guide to better breathing, better sleep, and better development.

Piya Trehan Gandhi, DDS

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST, AIRWAY AND TONGUE TIE RELEASE SPECIALIST

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Resources from Dr. Piya Gandhi:

• Free Airway Checklist + Provider Resources: https://drpiyagandhi.com/
• Find an Airway Provider Near You: https://drpiyagandhi.com/website_4530a186/#directory