👄 What Are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders—and Why Should You Care?

Helping feeding, speech, and function take flight for little ones in Santa Barbara.

As a parent, you might have noticed your child chewing with their mouth open, struggling with certain speech sounds, or even pushing their tongue against their teeth when they talk or swallow. These signs might seem small on their own - but together, they could point to something called an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder, or OMD. So, what exactly is that?

Let’s break it down.

🧠 What Is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

An OMD refers to the abnormal function of the muscles in the mouth and face - especially during rest, swallowing, or speaking. One common sign of an OMD is what's known as a tongue thrust, where the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth.

This might seem like a small issue, but over time, it can impact how a child:

• Speaks

• Chews and swallows

• Develops their bite and facial structure

😴 What Is Oral Rest Posture - and Why Does It Matter?

Oral rest posture is just what it sounds like: the natural position of the mouth when you're not talking or eating.

A healthy oral rest posture looks like this:

• Lips gently closed

• Tongue tip resting just behind the top front teeth

• Tongue body lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth

• Jaw relaxed and closed

When the tongue rests low or forward (often due to habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing), it can cause a chain reaction of challenges in speech, facial development, and even sleep.

🦷 How Can Poor Oral Posture Affect Teeth and Orthodontics?

As Linda D’Onofrio, CCC-SLP says:

“Your lips are your face’s braces, and your tongue is your palate expander.”

When the tongue doesn’t rest on the roof of the mouth, the palate may not develop properly - leaving less room for teeth to grow in straight. That means:

• Orthodontic work might take longer

• Results may not be stable

• Braces or expanders may relapse without lasting change in muscle habits

Addressing oral rest posture is a key part of protecting orthodontic investments.

🗣️ How Does It Impact Speech?

Oral rest posture is like base camp for speech - the starting point for how sounds are formed.

If the tongue rests in the wrong place, your child may need to overcompensate to produce sounds, leading to:

• Mumbled or unclear speech

• Sound errors that don’t resolve with traditional speech therapy

Commonly affected sounds include:/t, d, n, l, s, z, r, ch, j/. If these errors persist despite speech therapy, an OMD may be at the root - and correcting posture may be the missing piece.

🧐 What Causes an OMD?

The cause is usually multifactorial, meaning there’s often more than one reason. Common contributing factors include:

• Chronic mouth breathing

• Thumb/finger sucking or other oral habits

• Allergies or enlarged tonsils/adenoids

• Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) or other structural differences

• Neurological or developmental differences

• Genetics

That’s why a full evaluation is key—we want to understand the “why” behind the behavior.

🕰️ When Should My Child Start Therapy?

The short answer? When they’re ready and motivated.

Age is less important than motivation and commitment. Because therapy focuses on changing ingrained habits, success depends on the client’s desire to succeed and their ability to practice consistently.

That said, I'm here to help build that motivation - gently and positively - if your child isn’t quite there yet.

📅 How Long Does Therapy Take?

My orofacial myofunctional therapy program includes four phases:

• The first two (more intensive) phases: ~12 weeks

• The later (habituation) phases: ~6 weeks

• Occasional follow-ups or retention checks

Therapy is a journey, but the outcomes - improved speech, facial development, and long-term dental health - are well worth the effort.

👪 What’s the Parent’s Role?

Changing a daily habit takes teamwork. That’s why a consistent practice partner (usually a parent or caregiver) is required at every session. When the practice partner is engaged, informed, and supportive, the child is more likely to succeed.

Don’t worry - I'll guide you every step of the way. You’re not expected to do this alone.

💪 Is Therapy Difficult?

Yes - because change is hard. But it’s also incredibly rewarding.

Like learning to ride a bike or play a sport well, myofunctional therapy requires practice, patience, and persistence. But with the right support system in place, kids can absolutely succeed - and often enjoy the process along the way.

🧩 Ready to Explore More?

If your child has speech challenges that aren’t improving, persistent oral habits, or upcoming orthodontic work, it may be time to explore whether an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder is part of the picture.

Let’s take a holistic look - together.

👉 Schedule a Consultation or Evaluation