Speech Therapy Taping Course

Lesson 1 • Neurological Basis of Taping Effects

Details cutaneous receptor activation and sensorimotor integration triggered by tape. Connects neuroscience to functional improvements in speech and swallowing.

Lesson 2 • Biomechanical Principles of Tape

Explains how tape tension alters fascial glide, muscle activation, and joint mechanics. Links mechanical theory to observable clinical outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Tape Materials and Properties

Examines elastic, rigid, and hybrid tape compositions and their mechanical behaviours. Guides material selection based on target tissue and therapeutic goal.

Lesson 4 • History and Evolution of Taping

Traces kinesiology tape from athletic origins to speech therapy adoption. Contextualises why SLPs integrate taping into orofacial and postural intervention.

Lesson 1 • Cervical Spine and Postural Muscles

Identifies cervical vertebrae, deep neck flexors, and postural extensors influencing head position. Connects cervical alignment to resonance and airway management.

Lesson 2 • Respiratory and Trunk Musculature

Covers diaphragm, intercostals, and abdominal wall muscles supporting breath support for speech. Justifies trunk taping to optimise respiratory-phonatory coupling.

Lesson 3 • Orofacial Musculature and Landmarks

Maps muscles of facial expression, mastication, and lip closure critical for taping targets. Anchors placement decisions in palpable surface anatomy.

Lesson 4 • Tongue and Intrinsic Oral Structures

Reviews tongue musculature, hyoid attachments, and floor-of-mouth anatomy. Establishes anatomical rationale for submental and suprahyoid taping strategies.

Lesson 1 • Contraindications and Precautions

Identifies absolute and relative contraindications including skin conditions, allergies, and fragility. Prevents adverse events through structured screening before any tape application.

Lesson 2 • Goal Setting and Treatment Planning

Translates assessment findings into SMART taping goals integrated with broader therapy plans. Ensures taping serves as adjunct within a comprehensive intervention framework.

Lesson 3 • Postural and Respiratory Evaluation

Screens head-neck alignment, trunk stability, and breath support capacity before taping. Identifies postural contributors to speech and voice deficits.

Lesson 4 • Orofacial Functional Assessment

Applies standardised tools to evaluate lip seal, jaw excursion, and tongue mobility pre-taping. Establishes measurable baselines for outcome tracking.

Lesson 1 • Cheek and Buccinator Taping

Targets buccinator and zygomaticus for bolus control and facial symmetry. Supports feeding therapy and post-stroke facial retraining goals. This also improves proprioceptive feedback.

Lesson 2 • Submental and Hyoid Taping

Positions tape over suprahyoid muscles to facilitate hyolaryngeal elevation during swallowing. Directly targets pharyngeal phase deficits in dysphagia management.

Lesson 3 • Lip Closure and Seal Techniques

Applies facilitation and inhibition strips to orbicularis oris for improved lip seal. Addresses drooling, open-mouth posture, and articulation support goals.

Lesson 4 • Jaw and Masseter Taping

Applies decompression and inhibition techniques to masseter and temporalis for jaw grading. Reduces hypertonicity and supports jaw excursion in chewing and speech.

Lesson 1 • Oral Phase Dysphagia Applications

Addresses bolus formation, lip seal, and tongue propulsion deficits through targeted taping. Combines tape with oral motor exercises for synergistic effect.

Lesson 2 • Pharyngeal Phase Taping Strategies

Targets hyolaryngeal excursion and epiglottic inversion deficits with submental taping. Reduces aspiration risk by facilitating timely laryngeal elevation.

Lesson 3 • Outcome Measurement in Dysphagia Taping

Selects and applies validated tools to measure taping efficacy in dysphagia intervention. Guides data-driven decisions to continue, modify, or discontinue taping.

Lesson 4 • Neurogenic Dysphagia Taping

Adapts taping protocols for stroke, TBI, and neurodegenerative dysphagia presentations. Accounts for spasticity, flaccidity, and sensory deficits in technique selection.

Lesson 1 • Paediatric Speech Disorder Taping

Adapts taping protocols for children with speech sound disorders and motor speech delays. Incorporates play-based delivery and caregiver coaching for home carryover.

Lesson 2 • Resonance Disorder Taping

Targets velopharyngeal and nasal resonance dysfunction through cervical and facial taping. Complements behavioural resonance therapy with sensory cuing.

Lesson 3 • Fluency and Stuttering Applications

Explores proprioceptive taping as a sensory adjunct to fluency-shaping techniques. Examines evidence and rationale for jaw and lip taping in stuttering therapy.

Lesson 4 • Articulation and Motor Speech Taping

Uses orofacial taping to support lip and jaw movement accuracy in dysarthria and apraxia. Enhances proprioceptive feedback during articulation practice.

Lesson 1 • Sternocleidomastoid and Scalene Taping

Inhibits overactive SCM and scalene muscles contributing to cervical tension and voice strain. Reduces accessory muscle breathing patterns affecting phonation.

Lesson 2 • Head-Forward Posture Correction

Applies cervical taping to reduce forward head posture and improve airway alignment. Directly impacts resonance, vocal quality, and swallowing efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Trunk Stability and Breath Support Taping

Applies thoracic and abdominal taping to enhance trunk stability for sustained phonation. Supports patients with reduced core stability affecting breath-speech coordination.

Lesson 1 • Appraising Taping Research Quality

Applies evidence hierarchy frameworks to evaluate taping studies for bias and validity. Distinguishes high-quality RCTs from case reports and expert opinion.

Lesson 2 • Evidence for Speech and Voice Taping

Reviews literature on taping for dysarthria, voice disorders, and motor speech. Calibrates clinical confidence based on strength of available evidence.

Lesson 3 • Current Evidence for Dysphagia Taping

Synthesises published studies on kinesiology taping for swallowing disorders. Identifies supported techniques and areas requiring further investigation.

Lesson 4 • Conducting and Reporting Taping Research

Introduces single-subject and group research designs applicable to SLP taping practice. Prepares students to contribute to the evidence base through clinical inquiry.