Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

What is it?

What are the goals?

Orofacial myofunctional therapy is an oral exercise based intervention program focused on treatment of non-nutritive sucking habits, other detrimental orofacial habits, abnormal orofacial rest posture, neuromuscular muscle patterns associated with abnormal mastication, bolus, formation, and deglutition, abnormal swallowing patterns, tongue thrust, disordered speech patterns, and abnormal functional breathing patterns.

What are the goals?

Proper tongue resting posture
Lip seal at rest
Nasal breathing
Eliminate oral habits
Increase strength & coordination of oral musculature
Appropriate chewing pattern
Appropriate swallow pattern

When to get an assessment?

Mouth breathing
Malocclusion (underbite, overbite, open bite, crowding, poor jaw alignment)
Tongue and lip ties
Tongue thrust & lisp
Sleep disordered breathing & apnea
Prolonged oral habits (tongue, finger, thumb sucking, nail biting, )prolonged pacifier use
Jaw, neck, or facial pain
Low tongue rest posture
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Messy eating
Speech errors

When to start therapy?

When to get an assessment?

Therapy can start as early as 4 year of age. Child should be able to attend and follow directions/imitate oral movements. Oral imitation and control is addressed and will improve with therapy as well. Therapy for younger children will differ somewhat from therapy with older children and adults. That is the reason we offer two distinct programs based on ages and readiness. Both are offered through our partner company, Feeding Therapy Center. You can schedule a consult to discuss the best option for your child and learn how to start an Orofacial Myofunctional program.

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