You might be under the impression that once someone is diagnosed with sleep apnea, they’re simply sent on their way with a CPAP machine and that’s that—and you wouldn’t be alone in thinking this. Sarah Hornsby joins the podcast to explain why this isn’t—or at least shouldn’t be—the case. Prior to becoming a leader in the field of myofunctional therapy for sleep apnea, Sarah Hornsby worked as a dental hygienist, which eventually led her to discover and dive deeper into an investigation of the ways in which oral myofunctional problems and associated airway and breathing problems are related to poor sleep and overall health, and are actually the root causes of them.

Sarah Hornsby began her work as a myofunctional therapist in a brick-and mortar building, where she saw patients face-to-face for about four years. But by the end of 2014, she was being contacted by so many people from all over the world in search of a solution for their problems, that she decided the best way to reach more people would be to take her practice entirely online. Since then, she’s been teaching people how to strengthen their tongue, throat, breath through their nose, and rest their tongue at the top of their mouth through a variety of oral and breathing exercises. When she’s not doing Skype-based appointments, she’s making YouTube videos and other video programs in order increase the accessibility of these resources.

Sarah Hornsby discusses a number of interesting topics, including the effect that resting the tongue on the bottom of the mouth can have on a child’s craniofacial and airway growth and development, the respiratory disturbance index which accounts for changes in brain activity and heart rate during episodes of apnea, and how seemingly harmless snoring can lead to obstructive sleep apnea. She also discusses how her practice has evolved over the years to meet the demands of her patients, explains the process of a first-time appointment with her, and the impressive results she’s making possible.

Tune in for all the details, check out her videos on YouTube, and visit https://myfaceology.com/ to learn more.

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