Developing Healthy Habits To Last A Lifetime
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), children, teenagers, and adults may suffer from Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (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 tongue when they talk, drink, or eat. This is called tongue thrusting or fronting, and it is one type of OMD.
Just because a person has some or all of these symptoms does not mean that they have an OMD. Always see a professional for more information.
Some signs of an OMD may include the following:
There is no known single cause of OMDs. Several factors may cause them:
You may see a few professionals to determine if your child has an OMD. These professionals may include a:
Your dentist and orthodontist will look at your child’s teeth and how their jaw moves. Doctors can test for allergies and check your child’s tonsils and adenoids. SLPs test your child’s speech and look at how they eat, drink, and breathe.
After breathing problems are medically evaluated and treated, SLPs can help your child do the following:
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In addition to treating speech, language, and pragmatic communication disorders, I have developed a love for working with feeding and swallowing challenges. In 2019, I completed post-graduate training in orofacial myofunctional disorders to better serve my patients.