Is Airway Dysfunction the Missing Link in Your Practice?
Hi, I’m Dr. Jenny Hobson, founder of the Hobson Institute. If you’re a healthcare professional looking to elevate your skills and make a lasting impact, I’d like to personally invite you to my Intro to Airway Evaluation and Treatment course.
This hands-on course is designed for PTs, dentists, SLPs, OTs, and other medical professionals who want to learn how to identify and address airway dysfunction-an often-overlooked issue that influences everything from sleep and posture to TMJ pain, mood, and behavior.
My Wake-Up Call
Like many clinicians, I used to feel stuck with patients who just weren’t progressing. That changed at a sleep apnea conference, where I met Joy Moeller, a myofunctional therapist. Watching her assess a patient’s oral cavity with a flashlight-something I did every day—I asked, “What are you looking for?”
Her answer was a revelation.
She explained how clues like tongue tie, the size of the oral cavity, tooth wear, and airway visibility revealed critical insights into breathing function. It was then I realized: I had never been trained to assess the airway—despite looking in mouths daily.
A Personal and Professional Transformation
At the same time, my own children were diagnosed by an airway-focused dentist with narrow palates and potential breathing issues. My daughter, just four, would wake from naps in her car seat disoriented and crying. I chalked it up to drama—until I realized she was experiencing airway obstruction. She couldn’t breathe well in certain sleep positions, and didn’t have the words to tell me.
This ignited a mission.
I enrolled in my first myofunctional therapy course through AOMT and uncovered profound connections between breathing patterns, facial growth, and overall health.
Both of my children were mouth breathers, day and night. They had enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Instead of opting immediately for surgery, I asked: why was the swelling happening?
After exploring allergies and addressing dysfunctional breathing through myofunctional therapy, homeopathy, and gentle strategies like lip taping during sleep, we saw remarkable improvements. Surgery was avoided. Their nasal breathing improved, swelling reduced, and early palatal expansion supported healthy facial and airway development.
My Own Airway Story
As I dove deeper, I discovered my own airway challenges. I had a tongue tie, underwent unnecessary extractions at 12, and ended up with a compromised airway that eventually required surgical correction.
Through Buteyko breathing and oral posture work, I’ve optimized my own breathing despite anatomical limitations. This journey confirmed what I now believe deeply: airway dysfunction is everywhere—and most clinicians aren’t trained to see it.
Why I Created This Course
The Intro to Airway Evaluation and Treatment course was born out of necessity. Too many patients with TMJ, tinnitus, poor posture, fatigue, or sleep issues are treated for symptoms—while the root cause, their breathing, is left unaddressed.
I just had our first course this past weekend and it was a big success. I am happy to announce that we will be offering courses in the following cities in 2025. Here are the dates:
Chicago: May 17-18, Sept 19-20, Dec 13-14
Washington DC: June 13-14, Oct 17-18, Dec 6-7
LA: June 27-28, Nov 7-8
In this course, you’ll learn:
- How breathing patterns shape facial growth and airway development
- How to assess the soft palate, tongue posture, and oral cavity
- How to restore nasal breathing and optimal respiratory volume
- How to activate the diaphragm and reduce over-breathing
- How posture and spinal alignment influence airway function
This course blends my training in physical therapy, myofunctional therapy, craniofacial techniques, and breathing science. Whether you’re a dentist, PT, SLP, OT, or MD, you’ll walk away with a new lens to evaluate and help your patients heal more effectively.
Continuing Education & Who Should Attend
This course is open to all healthcare professionals. CE credits are available for:
- Physical Therapists (PTs, PTAs)
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
- Occupational Therapists (OTs)
- Dentists and Dental Hygienists
Even if you don’t plan to deliver airway therapy yourself, you’ll gain the tools to identify airway dysfunction and make the right referrals—so your patients get the care they truly need.
Ready to make a difference—one breath at a time?
👉 Register now at hobsoninstitute.com
