Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are patterns involving oral and orofacial musculature that interfere with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures, or call attention to themselves (Mason, n.d.A). OMDs can be found in children, adolescents, and adults. OMDs can co-occur with a variety of speech and swallowing disorders. OMD may reflect the interplay of learned behaviors, physical/structural variables, genetic and environmental factors (Maspero, Prevedello, Giannini, Galbiati, & Farronato, 2014).

Myofunctional therapy is a treatment modality that uses neuromuscular re-education of the lips, tongue, jaw, and face to optimize the way we Breathe, Eat, Sleep, and Talk. Through simple, targeted exercises, and home practice based on individual needs, this type of therapy can help with: habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrust, and mouth breathing; while also supporting clearer speech, better eating (chewing and swallowing), improved sleep, and overall long-term wellness for both children and adults. The main treatment goals are: correct tongue and lip rest posture, nasal breathing, correct swallow patterns, and correct speech placement/ clarity. This treatment is specifically designed for children with the cognition and fine motor abilities of at least a 5 year old child.

Myofunctional therapy includes individualized exercises to help the muscles of the mouth/ face function to the BEST of their ability and to correct improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It addresses the areas of breathing, eating, sleeping, and talking. Therapy is a non-invasive, low-risk way to treat ailments such as: tongue thrust, forward resting tongue posture (between or against teeth), speech sound errors, open mouth posture, oral phase dysphasia, snoring/ sleep apnea, thumb/ finger sucking habits, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and stability of orthodontic treatment. This type of therapy is designed for individuals 4-5 years old and up (it is never too late to help improve function).

We swallow about 400-500 times per day while awake, about 200-300 more times while eating/ drinking, and during sleep about once per minute or less (about 50-100 swallows). The WAY we swallow matters; our tongue is a strong muscle and can shape the way our face grows and develops. Watch these videos for visuals on swallow patterns.

Watch this video to see the impacts of mouth breathing and how we can support you.

No! We can do a whole lot more than just help with speech. Speech Language Pathologists work in several work settings including: schools, hospitals, rehab facilities, nursing facilities, home health, early intervention, private medical practices, home health, community centers, research/ academia, corporate/ business settings, nonprofits and advocacy groups.

We can also work in a variety of specialized areas, including but not limited to: speech sounds (articulation and phonological disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech), stuttering/ fluency, voice, receptive/ expressive language, social communication, literacy and reading disorders, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Feeding & swallowing, airway and breathing concerns, myofunctional therapy, cognitive-communication disorders, executive functioning, hearing loss, Autism Spectrum Disorders, craniofacial differences/ cleft palate, accent modification, and public speaking/ voice performance, etc.

At Breathe Eat Sleep Talk, we are an out-of-network provider with all insurance companies. Because we take a holistic approach and incorporate multiple treatment modalities, we are not able to bill insurance or provide documentation for reimbursement. Our services are wellness-based, with progress measured through both patient and family feedback as well as functional assessments by our speech-language pathologists. All sessions are private pay, with payment due on or before the day of service. Reach out today to review our intake packet and learn more.

Yes. Reach out today for our free consult about getting started.

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Younger children and infants can definitely benefit from similar methodology and intervention strategies used in myo; however, for children under 5 (as young as infants), therapy is more appropriately defined as feeding therapy. Please seek help from an SLP or OT specifically trained in feeding therapy for these ages! (All BEST therapists are SLPs also trained in this type of therapy in addition to myofunctional therapy)

Myofunctional therapy is an individualized therapy program, based on your symptoms and needs. Generally, we recommend starting therapy once per week or every other week to help establish muscle memory and address your needs. Home practice is recommended, daily, while in therapy to help promote best outcomes. The amount of sessions really depends on the individual, we’re happy to discuss your case with you during the evaluation.