Services

Myofunctional therapy

Myofunctional therapy is a programme used to correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It involves strengthening the tongue and oral facial muscles by teaching individuals how to engage the muscles to the appropriate position.

Myofunctional disorders are frequently associated with speech sound disorders or articulation difficulties. It is very important that a Speech Therapist treating speech also has an understanding and knowledge about possible associated myofunctional disorders as these can often lead to more serious health implications later in life.

Signs

Symptoms

There can be a number of signs you can look for if you suspect you or your child might have a myofunctional disorder such as;

Open mouth posture with lips apart
Forward tongue rest posture
Behavioural problems
Concentration difficulties
Problems with teeth such as crowding or an abnormal bite: overbite, underbite, open bite etc.
Drooling and poor oral control, specifically past the age of 2 years
Nonnutritive sucking habits, including pacifier use after age of 12 months, as well as finger, thumb, or tongue sucking
Distorted productions of /s, z/ often with an interdental lisp. Abnormal lingual dental articulatory placement for /t, d, l, n, ʧ, ʤ, ʃ, ʓ/

You or your child might experience one or more of these symptoms and not realise it is related to a myofunctional disorder.

There are many symptoms that you or your child might experience.

Teeth grinding
Poor sleep
Fussy eater,
TMJ / TMD or jaw pain
Social issues
Neck or back tension or pain
Sensitive gag reflex

Facts

About 25% of children with ADHD have undiagnosed myofunctional disorders
50% of the population have a tongue-tie that can lead to sleep apnea, snoring and many other health problems
60% of malocclusions are caused by digit sucking or a sucking habit, and 40% of digit suckers have learning problems
Increased risk for learning difficulties and cognitive delay
Increased risk for receptive language and comprehension problems
Increased risk for speech difficulties.

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Research

There is a lot of research but a few articles of interest are listed here

Association between Childhood Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Disruptive Behaviour Disorders in childhood and Adolescence (Constantin E., et al)
Sleep Disorders as a Risk to Language Learning and Use (Karla K. McGregor and Rebecca M. Alper)
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Verbal Skills in School-Aged Community Children
Sarah Morsbach Honaker, Ph.D., David Gozal, M.D., Jessica Bennett, M.A., Oscar Sans Capdevila, M.D., Karen Spruyt, Ph.D.
- Children with sleep disordered breathing are at greater risk for language disorders and receptive language difficulties
A frequent phenotype for paediatric sleep apnoea: short lingual frenulum, Authors: Christian Guilleminault, Shehlanoor Huseni and Lauren Lo
Short Lingual Frenulum and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children, Authors: Yu-Shu Huang1 , Stacey Quo2 , J Andrew Berkowski3 and Christian Guilleminaul
Ankyloglossia as a risk factor for maxillary hypoplasia and soft palate elongation: A functional - morphological study, A J Yoon , S Zaghi, S Ha, C S Law, C Guilleminault, S Y Liu.