Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders can include any irregularities in the form and function of the muscle, face, and mouth. These irregularities may affect dental or skeletal structures that affect normal development and growth. Symptoms of orofacial myofunctional disorders may include: persistent food aversions, malocclusion, mouth breathing, lip incompetence, tongue thrust, facial pain, sleep-disordered breathing and/or apnea, tethered oral tissues (i.e., lip and tongue), improper tongue resting position, maladaptive oral habits (i.e., thumb-sucking, or long term use of a pacifier or sippy cup). Referrals to addition team members may result if concerns outside the scope of practice are identified. See Referrals.

1. Breathing:  Teaching nasal versus mouth breathing;
2. Swallowing: Teaching a mature swallow to elimiate tongue thrust;
3 Oral Resting Postures: Teaching proper tongue resting position;
4. Articulation: If Myofunctional Disorders affect speech production or if articulation separate from MODs are present they will be addressed during therapy.
 

 Sound Speech offers individualized programs to target the elimination of negative oral habits that contribute to Myofunctional Disorders. Thumb sucking and continued use of pacifier are maladaptive behaviors that over time that can result in the development of a high, narrow palate and open bites (i.e., malocclusion). Sound Speech creates a systematic 4 week plan to eliminate thumb-sucking.

Depending on the results of the evaluation, referrals may be made to additional providers to collaborate in the treatment process. A child may be referred to a dentist for tethered oral tissue, an orthodontist for narrow palate or malocclusion, and ENT for resonance or ongoing care for allergies, reports of sleep disordered breathing, or mouth breathing.