ENTs, orthodontists, specialist dentists, and speech pathologists are all talking about orofacial myology and orofacial myofunctional disorders. But what do those words actually mean? How does an orofacial myofunctional disorder impact your wellbeing? And can you receive treatment for an orofacial myofunctional disorder?
We asked our Formal Clinical Supervisor and Orofacial Myology-trained Speech Pathologist, Emily, to explain it in an easy-to-understand way (for us non-speech therapists).
What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?
First, let’s break down what “orofacial myology” is.
Orofacial refers to the muscles and structures in the mouth (ORO) and face (FACIAL). And myology is “the study of” the movement and structures of those muscles. As speech pathologists trained in orofacial myology, our speech therapists look at how mouths and faces function in relation to speech, chewing, swallowing, breathing and overall facial development and growth.
Putting that all together, an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is when there are dysfunctional muscle patterns. In other words, an OMD is when movement or structures of the face or mouth affect facial functions, development and growth.
An OMD can impact speech sound production, eating skills, breathing health, dental alignment, facial development, as well as sleep quality.
Signs that may point to an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) include:
- Mouth breathing
- Open-mouth posture during the day or during sleep
- Fussy eating and avoidance of certain textures
- Difficulty or fatigue with chewing or swallowing certain food textures
- Prolonged thumb sucking, pacifier use, or other oral habits
- Forward tongue rest posture (tongue sits over front lower teeth)
- Distortion on any of the following sounds: /s, z, t, d, n, l, j, ch, sh, r/
- Enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Drooling beyond the typical age
- Signs of poor sleep quality such as: snoring, audible breathing, restless sleep, night sweats, waking frequently, frequent nightmares, night terrors, teeth grinding, mouth breathing, drooling, pauses in breathing, dark circles under the eyes, or frequently waking tired or irritable.
Noticed any of these signs in yourself, your child or another loved one? Ask as Speech Therapist for advice on next steps.
Who Can Diagnose and Treat An Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
Only Orofacial Myology-trained clinicians should diagnose and/or treat an OMD. This is typically a team of specialists such as ENTs, orthodontists, specialist dentists, and speech pathologists, and manual body workers. This is to ensure that you receive a comprehensive and holistic treatment plan.
One step on your orofacial myofunctional journey may include a speech assessment with a qualified Orofacial Myology-trained speech pathologist. This can be conducted in-person or through online speech therapy.
At Pop, we have a team of Orofacial Myology-trained therapists who can complete these speech assessments and who can also refer you to, and work alongside ENTs, orthodontists, specialist dentists and in some cases, manual body workers. This whole-team approach means that any structural barriers to be identified and addressed, so that optimal outcomes can be achieved with therapy.
At Pop, we can provide the Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), alongside structural barriers being addressed by the other professionals. OMT is targeted at retraining the muscles to rest and function correctly, therefore improving breathing, speech, eating function and reducing muscle compensations.
How Do I Know If I Have An Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
If one or more of the primary foundations listed below are not in place, you may have an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and how can it help?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) has 4 primary goals to improve your overall wellbeing. These are to:
1. Establish correct tongue rest posture
When we are not talking or eating, the tongue should be gently resting against the roof of the mouth, with light suction.
This holds the mouth closed and the jaw up against gravity, taking the load off the surrounding facial muscles.
The tongue position also influences the growth of the upper jaw and the position of the teeth. Tongue rest posture is particularly important for remediating a lisp, because “where you rest is where you ‘S’” – Linda D’Onofrio.
2. Establish lip seal
At rest, the lips should be closed without strain, meaning the surrounding facial muscles are relaxed, not working hard to keep them together.
A consistent lip seal supports nasal breathing, helps maintain good muscle balance, and protects oral health.
3. Establish a correct swallow pattern
A correct swallow ensures that the right muscles are doing the right job.
For some people, the tongue pushes forward during a swallow (sometimes called a “tongue thrust”).
This leads to overuse of the lips and other muscles, creating imbalances that can affect eating skills, dental health, and even facial appearance over time.
4. Establish consistent nasal breathing
Nasal breathing is the foundation for healthy oral and facial development.
Breathing through the nose warms, humidifies and filters the air, supports proper oxygen exchange, and promotes good oral hygiene and jaw development.
Chronic mouth breathing, on the other hand, can disrupt facial growth, lead to compensatory muscle use, and impact sleep, speech, and overall health
OMT can be provided by a trained orofacial myology-trained Speech Pathologist. When choosing a clinic to receive your OMT, we recommend comparing:
- The experience of the whole team in this clinical area, rather than a single speech pathologist. This will give you the comfort that your clinician is receiving supervision and support in this niche area.
- Ongoing training and development completed by the team and speech pathologist. This is to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest research and practices in this growing field.
- How the speech therapy service intends to collaborate with your wider orofacial myofunctional team of health experts.
How can Pop Online Speech Therapy help?
At Pop, we can help people identify signs of an orofacial myofunctional disorder for yourself or your child (yes we offer speech therapy for kids!) during our free discovery calls.
We have highly trained Speech Pathologists in orofacial myology and have one of the largest clinical teams dedicated to studying and treating in this niche area of speech therapy.
We provide both initial speech therapy assessments and ongoing orofacial myofunctional therapy to help you reach your goals.
