Orofacial myofunctional disorders are atypical, adaptive patterns that interfere with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures. 

Signs and Symptoms: 

• Open mouth posture at rest 
• Abnormal tongue posture at rest or during active speech (e.g., tongue thrust) 
• Structural abnormalities (e.g., restricted lingual frenulum, dental abnormalities such as underbite)
• Nonnutritive sucking habits (e.g., prolonged pacifier use, extended thumb sucking)
• Airway incompetency due to nasal structural obstructions (e.g., enlarged tonsils or adenoids creating snoring and sleep breathing disorders)
• Poor oral control (e.g., drooling) 
• Speech sound distortions 

At One Speech Therapy, our licensed speech-language pathologists are trained to treat orofacial myofunctional disorders.  We create individualized programs to retrain adaptive patterns of muscle function and focus on maintaining a healthy orofacial environment, while improving eating, swallowing, speaking, and breathing habits. Myofunctional therapy can help by establishing patent nasal airway, correcting resting tongue or lip relationships, improving oral placement for speech sound production and swallowing, and providing positive reinforcement through habit elimination programs. Our speech-language pathologists make referrals and collaborate with an interdisciplinary healthcare team (e.g., dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, ENTs) to provide comprehensive care.