What is Myofunctional Therapy?
We refer to a myofunctional specialist who assesses your child’s facial muscles to see how and where any underperformance is occurring. They develop a personalized plan of exercises to correct the issues by helping the facial muscles function correctly. Bad habits are often the cause of these issues and if untreated can lead to more complex and painful issues with chewing, swallowing, and speech. Breathing, bite, and posture can all be improved with myofunctional therapy and lead to better overall health.
who can benefit?
Oral myofunctional disorders can affect people of all ages and the earlier the intervention, the better the results. The function and development of facial structures can be affected when the lip, jaw, or tongue is in an abnormal position. Without correction, symptoms can last a lifetime. Causes of underperforming facial muscles can be the result of a variety of factors including a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils, and a misaligned bite.
Signs and Symptoms in Children Speech Concerns:
- Speech Concerns
- Frequent Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use
- Food Aversions
- Large Tonsils
- Lip and/or Tongue Tie
- Narrow Vaulted Upper Palate
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy
We want to replace bad habits with healthy habits. Therapy treatment is personalized based on age, symptoms, and unique needs. Throughout a period of 8-10 months, a patient will typically undergo twelve sessions. With exercises to transform habits, a patient can improve pain levels, sleep-disordered breathing, clenching and grinding, open-mouth breathing, posture, and overall health. They will also have at home tongue and lip strengthening exercises to continue the improvement and maintain positive oral myofunctional habits.
how to get started
We want to help. That’s why we’re here for your child when they need us. You can make an appointment and we’ll talk with you about your child’s symptoms and assess any underperforming facial muscles. Once we determine if your child can benefit from myofunctional therapy, we will set up an appropriate treatment plan with personalized solutions for their unique needs.
we can't wait to meet you
Call 614-475-5439 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
