What is Myofunctional Therapy?

People everywhere are buzzing about the benefits of Myofunctional Therapy which may have you wondering what it is and if it could help you.  Perhaps your doctor or dentist even recommended myofunctional therapy for you or a loved one and you are searching for more information. Hopefully this article will help answer questions surrounding myofunctional therapy. 

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy refers to a combination of physical therapy exercises designed to address muscle imbalances, disorders and habitual issues of the facial muscles, specifically mouth, lip and tongue muscles, to function properly and to ensure optimal tongue position as well as oral rest posture. By ensuring the face, neck, and mouth’s soft tissues are functioning properly, myofunctional therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for issues related to breathing, eating, and talking known as orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs).  Some studies even suggest that myofunctional therapy can be used as an effective treatment for sleep-disordered breathing. 

What are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)?

According to the American Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) refers to disorders affecting the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. These functions include swallowing, breathing, and communicating. Some common OMDs include the inability to latch while breastfeeding, difficulty chewing or swallowing, speech and facial expressions difficulty, mouth breathing, and snoring. 

Oral Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) can lead to issues such as snoring, breathing difficulties, communication problems, and can even hinder a child’s growth and development.  Like many other disorders, OMDs may range from very mild to very severe. Many OMDs are caused by habitual breathing through the mouth instead of the nose and swallowing incorrectly. 

Signs a child may benefit from Myofunctional Therapy:

Myofunctional therapy is worth exploring for your child if your child exhibits any of the following symptoms below:

• Teeth grinding

• Snoring to pediatric sleep apnea

• Gasping during sleep

• Tongue thrusting

• Morning headaches

• Bed-wetting

• Open mouth breathing or audible breathing

• Restless sleep

• ADHD like symptoms (hyperactive or difficulty concentrating)

• Daytime sleepiness

• Irritability

• Sleep walking

• Tongue tie

• Failure to grow

• Trouble eating, drinking, sucking, or swallowing

• Mouth hanging open when in a relaxed posture

The best age for a child to be screened for myofunctional therapy is as soon as it is suspected there are issues associated with abnormal bite, swallowing, chewing, mouth breathing or disrupted sleep. The sooner it is recognized that an OMD is present, the greater the chances of achieving harmonious growth and development.

What might be involved during Myofunctional Therapy? 

The best way to see if Myofunctional Therapy would be beneficial for you or your child is to be screened by an Myofunctional Therapist also referred to as an Orofacial Myoligist. The therapist will be able do a full assessment and review findings, including:

• Muscle imbalances

• Overactive or Underactive lips or cheeks

• Signs of a tongue or lip tie

• Trouble swallowing or tongue thrusting

• Habitual mouth breathing

• Trouble breathing through the nose

• Trouble articulating words

An individualized therapy program is designed by the therapist to address the needs of each patient which is dependent on the severity of treatment needs. Consistency is key in gaining strength and coordination.  Over time, muscle imbalances can be corrected, and bad habits can be unlearned. 

The therapist may refer you to a specialist depending on the evaluation findings.  Specialists that commonly work with a myofunctional therapist include, orthodontists, ENTs, dentists, pediatric dentists, chiropractors, and speech pathologists.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelsey Bolakowski, LDH, Orofacial Myologist

Kelsey earned a degree in dental hygiene at Indiana University and and has worked as a pediatric dental hygienist since graduating in 2011. She is also a trained orofacial myologist. Due to her extensive pediatric dental background, she specializes in providing myofunctional therapy services to pediatric patients, specifically children ages 3 to 12 years old. She has years of clinical experience in both pediatric and orthodontic settings. She oversees the Mini Myo Program at Godley Family Orthodontics in Zionsville, IN.