orofacial myofunctional therapy
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), or myofunctional therapy, is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on retraining and improving the coordination, strength, and function of the muscles in the face, tongue, lips, and jaw. It is designed to correct muscle imbalances and incorrect swallowing patterns, ultimately promoting proper oral posture and function. Myofunctional therapy is often used to address a range of issues, such as tongue thrust, open mouth posture, mouth breathing, messy eating, speech sound disorders, and thumb sucking, to enhance speech clarity, swallowing efficiency, and overall oral health.
Orofacial Myofunctional disorderS (OMDs)
According to the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA), OMDs are patterns involving oral and orofacial musculature that interfere with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures. OMDs can be found in children, adolescents and adults. OMDs can co-occur with a variety of speech and swallowing disorders.
Learn more about Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
Causes of OMDs
Airway obstructions (deviated septum, large adenoids)
Craniofacial abnormalities
Improper use of pacifiers (past 12 months) and sippy cups
Neurological deficits
Oral habits such as thumb sucking
Structural anomalies
Signs and symptoms of OMDs
Articulation difficulties
Reduced intelligibility
Dental abnormalities
Lip-tie
Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)
Mouth breathing
Open mouth posture
Picky eating habits
Messy eating
Problems with chewing and swallowing
Sleep issues
Teeth grinding
Thumb sucking
Tongue thrusting
Goals of myofunctional therapy
Normalize tongue and lip resting postures
Establish nasal breathing patterns
Eliminate improper chewing and swallowing patterns
Stabilize the dentition from extraneous orofacial muscle movement
Supporting the remediation of speech errors differently than some traditional methods
Address harmful oral habits including:
Prolonged pacifier use
Thumb and/or finger sucking
Fingernail, cheek, or lip biting
Tongue sucking
Clenching or grinding of the teeth
-Adapted from the IAOM website