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OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY
FOR CHILDREN & TEENS
Tongue Ties • Speech • Breathing • Sleep • Swallowing • Tongue Thrust
Signs of an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder
The following characteristics, signs, or symptoms may indicate the presence of a myofunctional disorder:
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Tongue thrust
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Open mouth at rest and mouth breathing
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Excessive drooling
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Teeth clenching or grinding
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Frequent chapped lips
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Prolonged oral habits (e.g., thumb or finger sucking, pacifier use, nail-biting, chewing objects)
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Persistent speech sound errors
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Poor sleep (e.g., dark circles under eyes, wakes frequently, snores, wakes feeling unrefreshed)
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Tongue or lip ties
How Myofunctional Therapy Can Help
If your child struggles with breathing through their nose, feeding, getting quality sleep, or speech sound errors, myofunctional therapy can make a significant difference! We'll introduce customized exercises to enhance the function of their jaw, teeth, tongue, and lip muscles. Our aim is to assist your child in achieving:
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Correct tongue posture and lip closure
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Nasal breathing
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Improved feeding and swallowing
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Clear speech sounds
We incorporate therapy exercises into enjoyable activities to keep your child motivated and engaged. If you're unsure whether your child would benefit from orofacial myofunctional therapy, please don't hesitate to contact us or schedule a free consultation!
Home Practice
Home practice is essential for success in myofunctional therapy. We collaborate closely with our clients to create a personalized home practice plan tailored to the therapy goals. Home practice programs include:
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Daily exercises
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Handouts
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Video tutorials
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Strategies to help with practice.
We also follow up with our clients and their caregivers to see how we can best support them.
Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluations
At Spark Pediatric Therapy, we recognize the interconnectedness of a child's facial growth, airway, sleep quality, feeding, and speech skills. Our specialized evaluation process enables us to examine all of these aspects to pinpoint the root causes of your child's symptoms. Each evaluation includes:
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Detailed medical, developmental, and health history
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Patient and/or parent interview
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A review of current or previous therapy
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Assessment of oral and facial muscles, including pictures, measurements, and videos
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Feeding and swallowing assessment
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Speech sound assessment
Evaluations are the starting point for successful therapy. Once we identify the underlying reasons for your child's challenges, we will discuss our findings, address your questions, and work together to create a tailored treatment plan. Referrals will be made as needed.
