Episode 257: What's the link? Oral function, sleep quality and ADHD with Tash Duffin from Whole Child Co

The Link Between Oral Function, Sleep Quality and ADHD in Children

This week on the podcast, we’re exploring a fascinating and important connection that more families need to know about: the link between oral function, sleep quality, and ADHD-like behaviours in children.

We are joined by Tash Duffin from Whole Child Co, an occupational therapist, orofacial myofunctional therapist, and practitioner working in infant and early childhood sleep quality, feeding, and reflux. Tash also brings her own lived experience as a mum, which makes this conversation feel both deeply informed and incredibly practical.

Together, they unpack how poor sleep quality, mouth breathing, and airway dysfunction can influence focus, impulsivity, emotional regulation, behaviour, and overall development. This episode is especially valuable for parents of children with an ADHD diagnosis, ADHD-like symptoms, restless sleep, mouth breathing, or ongoing feeding challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How poor sleep quality can mimic or worsen ADHD-like behaviours, including the impact of fragmented sleep on focus, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and hyperactivity.
• Why airway health and oral function matter so much, and how mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, and poor oral rest posture can affect a child’s development, behaviour, and nervous system regulation.
• The signs that may point to underlying sleep and airway issues, including open-mouth sleeping, restless sleep, unusual sleeping positions, bedwetting, grinding, dry lips, bad breath, selective eating, and daytime fatigue.
• Where parents can start if they’re concerned, from observing their child’s sleep more closely to seeking the right support and understanding why addressing root causes matters more than relying on quick fixes alone.

🎧 Tune in to learn more about the connection between oral function, sleep quality, and ADHD, and why looking more closely at how your child breathes and sleeps may offer an important missing piece in their overall health and behaviour picture.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Website: Whole Child Co
Instagram: @wholechildco.au

 Tash offers online and in-person support for families through:

• Orofacial myofunctional therapy
• Sleep quality assessments
• Support for persistent sleep challenges
• Feeding and oral function therapy

Previous Natural Super Kids Podcast Episode with Tash Duffin
 Tash has also been on the podcast before to talk about sleep,reflux and feeding, so if that’s relevant for your family, make sure to check out that earlier episode as well.

This episode is proudly sponsored by my membership, the Natural Super Kids Klub. If you would like to become a member of the Klub to get more helpful resources to help you raise a happy and healthy family click here and pop your name on the waitlist.

 If you loved this episode, leave me a review! I would really appreciate it. Also, let me know your biggest takeaway from this episode by sending me a direct message on Instagram @naturalsuperkids or shoot me an email at [email protected].