Since 1977, Dr. Franklin has specialized in the evaluation and treatment of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. In that time, she has provided help for a range of issues including an incorrect resting lip and tongue posture, an incorrect swallowing pattern (known as “tongue thrust”), prolonged non-nutritive sucking habits, and related articulation (speech) disorders.

Dr. Franklin is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and a Certified Orofacial Myologist®/ Myofunctional therapist by the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM).

Dr. Franklin has had extensive training and experience with orofacial myofunctional disorders and is considered an expert in these fields.
Besides having a busy private practice, Dr. Franklin lectures to orthodontic residents at the Texas A&M / Baylor College of Dentistry educating them about orofacial myofunctional disorders and also lectures at numerous dental study groups of maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and pediatric dentists.

Dr. Franklin has co-authored with Dr. Robert Mason, D.D.S., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Surgery and Previous Chief of Orthodontics at Duke University Medical Center, an invited editorial for the journal Otolaryngology, entitled, “Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders and Otolaryngologists,” in October, 2014, a paper entitled, “Position Statement of the International Association of Orofacial Myology Regarding: Appliance Use for Oral Habit Patterns,” International Journal of Orofacial Myology, 2009, Vol. 35 and "The Importance of the Freeway space in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy", International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy, 2020, Vol. 46

Dr. Franklin is a Life member of the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), where she has served on the Board of Directors and was awarded the prestigious President’s Award. She is a member of the Texas Speech, Language Hearing Association (TSHA) and the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), for which she has been the recipient of at least 10 Awards for Continuing Education (ACE) by the Continuing Education Board (CEB) of ASHA in recognition of continued professional studies.

In addition, she created an Advanced online course for patients who are ages 5- 13 years of age based on her almost 5 decades of specializing in Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders that is truly revolutionary and is completely different from what is being taught for this age group. Her approach is streamlined, simplified and effective. Her philosophy is to give patients the fewest number of exercises that are the most effective. Her therapy program consists of having the patients practice only TWO exercises ONCE a day using only ONE therapy tool, the Zickefoose Lip Exerciser. No tongue therapy, no swallowing therapy, no busy work – and her patients and referral sources are amazed at the results. In this Advanced Online course, she also teaches other clinicians her secrets for having the most successful myofunctional therapy practice where she sees 13 – 15 patients a day and has 12 – 16 month waiting list of patients wanting her therapy.