Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Orofacial myofunctional disorders refers to incorrect patterns of muscle function and habits involving the face, mouth, and jaw. These disorders can affect chewing, swallowing, breathing, and speech, often leading to issues like tongue thrust, mouth breathing, or improper tongue posture. They may result from factors such as prolonged thumb-sucking, tongue-tie, or structural abnormalities like a high palate.

 

The Impact on Speech and Language

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- Difficulty producing certain sounds, such as “s,” “z,” “sh,” and “ch,”

- Slurred speech

- Resting open mouth posture or tongue sticking out

- Nasal or breathy speech quality

 

Early diagnosis and treatment, typically involving therapy to retrain orofacial muscles and address functional disorders such as mouth breathing, improper chewing, atypical swallowing, and incorrect tongue resting posture. Addressing these issues through therapy can improve muscle coordination, enhance speech clarity, and support overall language development.

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A speech-language pathologist will create an individualized plan to identify maladaptive habits like tongue thrusting or improper swallowing, and evaluate their impact on speech, feeding, and breathing. A treatment program focuses on retraining oral and facial muscles, aiming to improve tongue posture, lip closure, and nasal breathing. They also work on correcting speech sound errors caused by OMDs, such as lisps or other articulation challenges. It is often beneficial to collaborate with other professionals, like orthodontists or ENT specialists, to ensure comprehensive care, and to address underlying structural or functional issues.