⬤ Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Restore healthy oral function

Myofunctional therapy (also known as orofacial myofunctional therapy) focuses on restoring healthy function in the face, tongue, lips, and jaw. Through gentle, exercise-based retraining, this holistic approach helps correct habits and patterns.

Child practicing tongue placement with a mirror during myofunctional therapy at Michiana Speech Therapy
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What is myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional therapy retrains the muscles of the face, tongue, lips, and jaw. By improving posture and correcting oral habits, it supports speech clarity, safe swallowing, and long-term oral health.

Signs your child may benefit

  • Articulation difficulties

  • Reduced intelligibility

  • Dental abnormalities

  • Lip-tie

  • Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)

  • Mouth breathing

  • Open mouth posture

  • Picky eating habits

  • Messy eating

  • Problems with chewing and swallowing

  • Sleep issues

  • Teeth grinding

  • Thumb sucking

  • Tongue thrusting

Common challenges we support

  • Muscle imbalances affecting swallowing

  • Oral habits like thumb sucking, nail biting, or clenching

  • Sleep-disordered breathing

  • Articulation and speech sound disorders related to oral function

  • Relapse after orthodontic treatment

Goals of Myofunctional Therapy

  • Normalize tongue and lip resting postures

  • Establish nasal breathing patterns

  • Eliminate improper chewing and swallowing patterns

  • Stabilize the dentition from extraneous orofacial muscle movement

  • Supporting the remediation of speech errors differently than some traditional methods

  • Address harmful oral habits including:

    • Prolonged pacifier use

    • Thumb and/or finger sucking

    • Fingernail, cheek, or lip biting

    • Tongue sucking

    • Clenching or grinding of the teeth


-Adapted from the IAOM website

Why it matters

When oral muscles don’t function properly, they can impact speech, growth, and overall health. Myofunctional therapy restores balance, helping children speak clearly, eat safely, and breathe more efficiently.

⬤ Resources

Helpful information

Logo of the International Association of Orofacial Myology with a blue background and a globe in the center of the acronym IAOM.

What are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

International Association of Orofacial Myology

⬤ Contact

Start with a consultation

Discuss your concerns in a free phone call and learn how therapy could support your child.

Speak

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Eat

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Breathe

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Speak • Eat • Breathe •