Kate
Roche
BSc (Physiotherapy) | MISCP | MCSP | IBCLC
Clinical Director & Co-Founder
National Tongue Tie Centre • Clonmel & Naas
"Every feeding difficulty has a root cause. My role is to find it, treat it comprehensively, and give families the tools to move forward with confidence."
Kate Roche is a Chartered Physiotherapist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Paediatric Feeding Therapist with over two decades of specialist clinical experience. She co-founded the National Tongue Tie Centre with her husband, Dr. Justin Roche, in 2007 - an initiative that grew from a personal family experience in 1999 and has since grown into Ireland's leading dedicated tongue tie treatment service.
Kate trained at the University of Liverpool and went on to work in acute paediatrics at Leeds and neonatal physiotherapy in Southampton before relocating to Ireland. This foundation in hospital-based neonatal and paediatric care underpins her clinical approach, which integrates hands-on assessment, evidence-based rehabilitation, and family-centred care at every stage.
As Clinical Director, Kate leads the physiotherapy, lactation and rehabilitation arm of the NTTC, ensuring that every patient - from newborn infants to adults - receives a comprehensive, functional assessment and a structured treatment pathway. Her clinical framework goes beyond the frenotomy or frenuloplasty itself: rehabilitation, motor patterning, and parent education are central to everything the NTTC does.
Kate is the creator of the PRIME Feeding Method, a five-stage clinical framework now forming the backbone of the NTTC's professional education offering. She is an internationally recognised speaker and a committed advocate for multidisciplinary approaches to ankyloglossia management.
Areas of Specialist Practice
Infant Feeding
Comprehensive assessment and management of breastfeeding and bottle feeding difficulties in infants.
Ankyloglossia & Tethered Oral Tissues
Functional assessment of tongue tie, lip tie, and buccal ties across all age groups, using individualised treatment programmes.
Paediatric Feeding Therapy
Assessment and management of feeding aversion, texture progression difficulties, and oral sensorimotor dysfunction in children of all ages.
Colic, Reflux & Gut Health
Integrative assessment of infant colic and gastro-oesophageal reflux within the context of feeding mechanics and tethered oral tissue dysfunction.
Clinician Education & Training
CPD course development and delivery for IBCLCs, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and other clinicians working in infant and paediatric feeding.
The PRIME Feeding Method
Developed by Kate and refined through thousands of clinical encounters, the PRIME Feeding Method is a five-stage framework for assessing and treating feeding dysfunction. It brings structure, consistency, and a family-centred approach to every patient journey.
Learn More About the PRIME Method →
Supporting the parent-infant dyad before clinical intervention begins
Assessing physiological and neurodevelopmental readiness for feeding
Optimising postural alignment and oral cavity positioning for functional feeding
Establishing and reinforcing correct oral motor patterns through structured exercises
Consolidating functional feeding through carryover into daily routines
Academic & Professional Qualifications
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BSc (Physiotherapy) University of Liverpool
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MISCP Member, Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
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MCSP Member, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (UK)
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IBCLC International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
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Paediatric Feeding Therapist Post-graduate clinical training
Career Pathway
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Acute Paediatric Physiotherapist Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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Neonatal Physiotherapist University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
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Co-Founder & Clinical Director National Tongue Tie Centre, Ireland (2007 to present)
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Creator, PRIME Feeding Method Clinical framework for feeding dysfunction assessment and treatment
Conferences & Presentations
Tongue Time International Congress
St. Gallen, Switzerland — 600+ delegates from 45 countries. Presenter and Consensus Statement writing group member.
TonguetoToes Conference
London, UK — October 2026. Confirmed speaker alongside Dr. Justin Roche.
CranioSacral Ireland Webinar
May 2026 — Invited presenter.
ICAP & American Laser Study Club
Multiple international presentations on CO2 laser frenuloplasty and multidisciplinary tongue tie management.
Tongue Tie Toolbox
Kate and Justin created the Tongue Tie Toolbox to bring rigorous, evidence-based education to clinicians working in infant and paediatric feeding. Courses are designed for IBCLCs, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and any clinician who wants to develop confident, competent practice in tongue tie assessment and management.
Feeding & Therapy
A comprehensive course covering the clinical assessment, treatment planning, and rehabilitation approaches for feeding dysfunction associated with tethered oral tissues.
Frenectomy
Clinical education on frenectomy procedures, patient selection, post-operative care, and outcomes in tongue tie treatment.
Frenuloplasty
In-depth clinical education on functional frenuloplasty, surgical technique, CO2 laser application, and comprehensive post-procedure rehabilitation.
Access the full Tongue Tie Toolbox platform including parent guides, membership, and CPD resources
Visit Tongue Tie Toolbox →In the Media
Happy Baby Podcast
Episode 8 — April 2022
Tongue Tie Experts Podcast
Episode 100 — Early 2025
Cuddles & Milk Podcast
Episode 109 — October 2025
Irish Medical Times
Editorial on ankyloglossia management and the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics consensus response
Tongue Time 2026 Consensus Statement
Writing group member — International consensus on ankyloglossia assessment and management
Irish Enterprise Awards 2026
Best Multidisciplinary Tongue Tie Treatment Centre 2026
