Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), are abnormal patterns of the muscles of the mouth and face that can negatively impact normal growth, development, and/or function of these structures. At Chicago Speech Therapy, we provide specialized (myofunctional) therapy to help determine and resolve the root cause of a child’s OMD, and work on improving the areas of functioning that may have been impacted (e.g., quality of speech, oral resting position, swallowing pattern).
Understanding OMDs
OMDs can be caused by airway obstruction (e.g., enlarged tonsils/adenoids, deviated septum, allergies), noxious habits (e.g., thumb sucking, finger sucking, prolonged pacifier use), or ankyloglossia (e.g., tongue tie). These issues can cause the tongue to rest low and forward in the mouth, resulting in the tongue pushing against or between the teeth during speech and/or swallowing. This can affect the way a child speaks, eats, breathes, and even sleeps.
Common Signs of OMDs
- Speech sound errors, such as the tongue protruding between the teeth for speech sounds such as /t, d, n, l, s, z/
- Dental malocclusions such as underbite, overbite, or open bite
- Tongue thrusting forward during swallowing, resulting in messy eating
- Mouth breathing or open mouth resting position
- Drooling
- Audible breathing
- Protruded tongue at rest
Who May Benefit from Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT)?
- Children who demonstrate speech sound errors characterized by protruded tongue placement (e.g., lisp)
- Children with dental issues caused by tongue positioning (e.g., open bite, overbite, underbite)
- Children demonstrating messy/picky eating or experiencing difficulty swallowing due to tongue thrust
- Children with mouth breathing patterns
How Speech (Myofunctional) Therapy Can Help
Our experienced speech-language pathologists and myofunctional therapists provide comprehensive evaluations to determine the presence of OMDs and their impact. Based on the evaluation, we create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on:
- Resolving the underlying root cause of the OMD.
- Teaching appropriate tongue positioning at rest, during speech, and during swallowing.
- Enhancing overall speech intelligibility and swallowing function.
What to Expect from Our Therapy Sessions
- Assessment: We begin with a thorough assessment to understand your child’s specific needs related to their orofacial myofunctional (and often, speech) skills.
- Personalized Plan: A customized therapy plan is developed to address your child’s unique goals.
- Interactive Activities: Our therapy sessions include engaging exercises to increase awareness, strength, and function of oral muscles and correct tongue positioning in relation to speech, swallowing, and oral resting position.
- Progress Monitoring: We continuously monitor your child’s progress and adjust the therapy plan as needed to ensure meaningful improvements.
Our Approach to Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
- Evidence-Based Practices: Our therapists use proven techniques and exercises to address orofacial myofunctional deficits and improve oral resting position, speech, and swallowing.
- Family Involvement: We involve parents and caregivers in the therapy process to provide support and reinforcement at home.
- Positive and Encouraging Environment: We create a supportive atmosphere where children feel confident and motivated to practice their skills.
Therapeutic Techniques We Use
- Oral Function Exercises: Exercises to promote increased awareness, coordination, strength, and function of the muscles of the tongue, lips, and jaw.
- Swallowing Techniques: Training on proper swallowing techniques to promote an appropriate swallow pattern.
- Speech Sound Practice: Activities to correct speech sound errors related to tongue positioning.
- Habit Elimination: Strategies to eliminate habits contributing to orofacial myofunctional disorders, such as thumb sucking.
Benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
- Improved Speech Clarity: Correcting tongue positioning can enhance speech intelligibility.
- Better Dental Health: Reducing tongue pressure on teeth can help prevent dental issues.
- Enhanced Swallowing Function: Proper tongue positioning can improve swallowing efficiency.
- Overall Oral Health: Strengthening orofacial muscles promotes an appropriate oral resting position and contributes to better overall oral health.
Meet Our Lead Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
"We had the most wonderful experience with Chicago Speech Therapy! Our speech pathologist, Miss Megan, developed a bond with our son almost immediately. By week two, he would await her arrival by the window in our front door! She quickly discovered all of his favorite things and would bring so many toys of her own that would keep him engaged and wanting to talk! She gave us (parents) tons of strategies to work with on our own in between her weekly visits. Our son made consistent progress under her care and has now been released from speech therapy ~ which actually makes us so sad ~ simply because we miss Miss Megan! She basically became part of our family and will be dearly missed. I couldn’t recommend Miss Megan and Chicago Speech Therapy more!"
"The process w/ CST was smooth, from the intake process, registration, processing insurance to on-going communication. Sarah was the Speech Therapist for our 9-year-old and she established a wonderful rapport with her and gained her trust over the months. I highly recommend CST."
