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Speech Disorder in Children

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders in Children

If you’re concerned with your child’s mouth breathing, or that their thumbsucking habit may have caused some trouble swallowing or speaking it is called Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder.
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What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

If you’re concerned with your child’s mouth breathing, or that their thumbsucking habit may have caused some trouble swallowing or speaking it is called Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a type of therapy that certain Speech Therapists specialize in. Our Speech Therapists are Myofunctional Therapists.
OMT can help children with Orofacial Myofunctional disorders, such as Tongue Thrusting, to eat, breathe, or talk more efficiently.
Children and teenagers may suffer from OMDs. OMDs may interfere with normal growth and development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth. OMDs may also interfere with how the muscles of the face and mouth are used for eating, talking, and breathing. People who have an OMD may also have problems with talking, swallowing, and breathing through their nose. Some children push out their tongues when they talk, drink, or eat. This is called tongue thrusting or fronting, and it is one type of OMD.

What Are Signs and Symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

Some signs of an OMD may include the following:

  • Someone who always breathes through the mouth or has difficulty breathing through the nose
    Limited tongue movement
  • Eating may be messy or difficult. Keep in mind that it is normal for babies to stick their tongue out and push food out of their mouth. Over time, they do this less.
  • An overbite, underbite, and/or other dental problems
  • The tongue pushes past the teeth, even when a person is not talking or using the tongue
    Difficulty saying some sounds, like “s” in “sun,” “sh” in “ship,” or “j” in “jump.”
  • Drooling, especially beyond age 2
  • Difficulty closing the lips to swallow

How Can a Speech Therapist Help Your Child?

Speech Therapist can help your child do the following:

  • Pay closer attention to their mouth and facial movements
  • Know where their tongue and mouth muscles are when they speak, drink, and eat
    Say sounds more clearly
  • Change how they chew and swallow
  • Practice different breathing patterns

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a type of therapy that certain Speech Therapists specialize in. Our Speech Therapists are Myofunctional Therapists at the Persian Speech Clinic.

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