Pediatric Myofunctional Therapy

Many experts and physicians believe that orofacial myofunctional disorders could be the result of:

• Restricted nasal airway due to enlarged tonsils/adenoids, deviated septum, and/or allergies;
• Improper oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking, cheek/nail/cuticle biting, teeth clenching/grinding, and/or tongue/lip/cheek sucking;
• Extended use of pacifiers or sippy cups;
• Structural and/or physiological abnormalities such as a short lingual frenum “tongue tie”;
• Neurological deficits and developmental delays; and
• Hereditary disposition.

Wondering if your child or family member may have this condition? Signs of an orofacial myofunctional disorder may include a person who:

• Always engages in oral breathing or has difficulty with nasal breathing
• Has limited tongue movement
• Is a messy eater or has difficulty eating
• Has an overbite, underbite, and/or other dental problems
• Exhibits tongue pushing past teeth, even when not speaking or using tongue
• Has difficulty saying some sounds like “s” in “sun,” “sh” in “ship,” or “j” in “jump”
• Drools, especially beyond age 2
• Has difficulty closing lips to swallow

Myofunctional therapy is beneficial for children, teenagers, and adults. It typically involves an individualized exercise program where the person practices specific movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, and throat. The purpose of the exercises is to build awareness, strength, and coordination of the tongue, lips, and other facial muscles. Sessions may include habit-reversal techniques (i.e., reducing thumb sucking) and are often guided by a speech-language pathologist, dental professional, or myofunctional therapist.