What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

An Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) occurs when the muscles of the face and mouth do not work together properly. This can affect how a child breathes, rests their tongue and lips, chews, swallows, and speaks. OMDs may also impact sleep, facial growth and developemtn, dental alignment, and the long-term stability of orthodontic treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Children and adults with OMDs may show one or more of the following:

Mouth breathing
Chronic open-mouth posture
Difficulty keeping lips closed at rest
A tongue thrust or an incorrect resting posture
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Speech that sounds unclear or imprecise
Dental concerns such as an open bite or crowded teeth
Sleep concerns

What are the causes?

It is often difficult to identify just one cause of OMDs. In many cases, they develop from a combination of factors over time.

Common causes may include:

Extended use of pacifiers, bottles, or sippy cups
Oral habits, such as thumb or finger sucking, nail biting, sucking on the tongue, lips or cheeks
Structural differences, such as a tongue tie
Restricted nasal airway due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, or a deviated septum
Developmental or neurological differences
Family history or genetic factors

How are orofacial myofunctional disorders evaluated?

A myofunctional evaluation helps us gain a complete understanding of your child’s oral function and myofunctional needs, and allows us to develop individualized therapy goals.

The evaluation may include:

An oral motor examination to assess the structure and function of the lips, tongue, jaw, and palate.
Assessment of oral resting posture including tongue and lip position at rest
Observation of swallowing patterns during eating and drinking
Assessment of sound production
Discussion of medical and developmental history with parents
After the evaluation, results and recommendations are reviewed with the parent and a personalized treatment plan is created.

How are orofacial Myofunctional disorders treated?

The goal of myofunctional therapy is to improve how the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue work together. Treatment is individualized based on your child’s specific needs and may include:

Collaborating or referring to appropriate providers when needed, such as ENTs, dentists, orthodontists, or sleep specialists.
Eliminating oral habits, such as thumb or finger sucking.
Strengthening or coordinating oral muscles to support proper resting posture and swallowing patterns.
Establishing a healthy nasal breathing pattern, when appropriate.
Retraining the tongue, lips, and jaw to be at the correct position at rest.
Improving chewing and swallowing patterns.
Supporting clearer speech production, when needed.
Parent involvement is an important part of the therapy process, and parents are provided with strategies and home practice activities to support progress outside of sessions.

Where can I learn more?

For additional information about orofacial myofunctional disorders, please visit www.iaom.com or call us today for a free phone consultation!