Children, teenagers, and adults may suffer from Myofunctional Therapy disorders and OMDs. OMDS may hinder the normal growth and development of muscles and bones of the face and mouth. OMDs may also limit how the strength of the face and mouth can be utilized for eating, talking, and breathing. Myofunctional therapy Patients with OMD could also have difficulties swallowing, speaking, or breathing through their noses. Some children put their tongues out when they drink, chat, or consume food. This is called mouth thrusting and facing and is a form of OMD.
The Signs And Symptoms
If someone exhibits any of the symptoms listed above, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have an OMD. Always consult a doctor for more information.
The symptoms of OMD and Myofunctional Therapy could be unasymptomatic OMD can be:
● The tongue isn’t moving in any way.
● Food can be messy and difficult to digest. It’s common for babies to utilize their tongues and squeeze food out of their mouths. They’ll tend to use their tongues less frequently as time goes on.
The Reasons
The root of myofunctional and orofacial issues has been found, and the causes are multifactorial. Whatever causes the tongue to be in a posture that isn’t optimal for the movement of the language within the oral cavity. This also hampers the capability to achieve an appropriate closure of lips. It can hinder or limit the attainment of and maintaining the proper oral rest positions, which results in OMD. There are several myofunctional therapy exercises.
How Do I OMD Detect?
A team of specialists usually detects OMD. Alongside the child, their caregivers, and parents, the group could include:
- A dentist
- An orthodontist
- A physician
- Speech-language pathologists (SLP)
Doctors identify the presence of airway obstruction (e.g., due to the increased size of the tonsils, adenoids, or allergies), which can cause the tongue to move forward. SLPs examine and treat the adverse effects of OMD in speaking, resting positions, and swallowing.
The Goals Of Therapy
● Correct the strange tongue and lip movement in swallowing and lip and tongue rest posture differences; speech differences; oral habits; and structural/functional (oral /facial muscle imbalance) difficulties of the body, jaw, lips, and tongue.
● Control the reverse-swallow pattern described as a strong upward-facing tongue motion. It can be observed in normal individuals in the development and those with neurological disorders.
Examining To Determine If There Is The Presence Of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)
You may see a few experts determine if your child is suffering from OMD. The specialists could include
- A dentist;
- An orthodontist
- A doctor or
- An SLP.
The dentist or orthodontist you consult with will examine the baby’s tooth and how their children’s jaws move. Doctors can test the presence of allergic reactions, examine your child’s tonsils, and look for the existence of adenoids. SLPs can evaluate your child’s speech and discuss how they consume food, drink, or even breath.
The primary goal of orofacial therapy, which is myofunctional therapy exercises, is to create an oral space that allows for the normal orofacial process.
Enhance The Speech Sound Articulatory Placement
A wrong position for the oral rest of the tongue and mouth could result in the language creating speech because of an improper resting position. In such cases, correcting the OMD can positively impact the way speech is made. Myofunctional therapy cost can vary.
Modify The Handling And Swallowing Of Liquids, Saliva, And Solids
Patients with OMDs may have oral phase dysphagia which could require treatment. Check out the American Society for Health’s Practice Portal pages on Pediatric Feeding and swallowing and adult dysphagia.
The myofunctional therapy could include picking the appropriate devices for oral use, like straws and bite or mouth blocks, foods, and more. To aid in the dissociation of the jaw and tongue required to eat and drink.
Language And Speech Pathology Therapy For Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Training Disorders
When breathing issues are diagnosed medically and addressed, SLPs can help your child to deal with these issues:
- Concentrate on their mouths and facial movements.
- You can hear it.
- Change how they chew and swallow.
- Try different breathing techniques.
Final Thoughts
Speech therapy is not the only option to always solve issues related to the speech sound or the intelligibility of a person suffering from a functional orofacial myofunctional therapy training disorder accompanied by an articulation disorder.
Laura solves the articulation challenges that accompany them by focusing on the sensory and motor processes that trigger oral motion and the position of muscles and increase their tone. Normalize tactile sensitivity, separate oral-facial movements, regulate and stabilize movements, and stimulate and regulate reflex reactions.
