Orofacial Myology at Thriveable Therapies

Orofacial myology (also known as "oral/orofacial myofunctional therapy," "myofunctional therapy," or simply, "myo") is an evidence-based treatment for orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), which involve abnormal muscle function in the face, mouth, tongue, and throat. OMDs can impact speech, chewing, swallowing, breathing, dental alignment, and overall health. Therapy uses targeted exercises and stretches to improve the strength, coordination, and function of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw.

Therapy for All Ages

At Thriveable Therapies, besides traditional orofacial myofunctional therapy, we also specialize in working with infants, toddlers, and children with developmental delays to improve oral function for feeding and speech. For younger children, we blend myofunctional therapy principles with evidence-based speech and feeding therapy approaches to provide early intervention for orofacial myofunctional disorders, feeding difficulties, and speech disorders.

We offer customized interventions for every age and ability:

Baby Myo (Birth–18 months)

Gentle, caregiver-led exercises and therapeutic techniques to support feeding, relieve oral tension, improve latch, and develop a strong oral motor foundation for early eating and drinking skills.

Mini Myo (18 months–4 years, and children with developmental delays)

A play-based introduction to therapy focused on developing healthy orofacial muscle development, nasal breathing, tongue posture, speech, feeding, and elimination of habits like pacifier use and thumb sucking.

Traditional Myo (Ages 5 years and older)

Traditional orofacial myofunctional therapy program, with weekly exercises and structured daily home practice to support lasting progress for proper oral rest posture, nasal breathing, swallowing patterns.

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Signs & Symptoms of Oral Myofunctional Disorders

Feeding & Oral Motor Difficulties
Difficulty chewing/swallowing, picky eating, drooling, food pocketing
Speech Disorders & Oral Habits
Speech errors, mumbling, tongue thrust, thumb sucking
Orofacial Growth & Structure Deficits
Low resting tongue posture, tethered oral tissues, high/narrow palate, teeth crowding, jaw/face growth issues, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, TMJ disorder
Breathing & Sleep Disorders
Mouth breathing, snoring, poor sleep, reduced oxygen to brain
Cognitive/Behavioral Deficits (Result of reduced oxygen intake)
Difficulties with learning, cognitive skills, attention, behavior

Tongue Thrust

Mouth Breathing

Tongue Tie

Dental, Palate, and Jaw Issues

FAQ

Do you work with adults too?

While we primarily work with kids, yes, we do also offer orofacial myofunctional therapy for adults.

What happens during evaluations?

Our comprehensive evaluations are designed to give us a full picture of the client's oral function and development. We begin by gathering a detailed history, including medical, dental, and feeding background. During the evaluation, we assess the mouth and surrounding structures through visual observation, imitation of oral motor movements, hands-on palpation of facial and oral muscles, and measurements of the jaw, tongue, lips, and palate.

We also screen for speech difficulties, observe your child eating, drinking, and swallowing, and look for signs of related concerns such as tongue tie, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, or sleep-disordered breathing.

Based on our findings, we’ll provide individualized recommendations, discuss whether myofunctional therapy is appropriate and what it would involve, and provide referrals to specialists like ENTs or pediatric dentists if needed. A detailed report outlining the results and our recommendations will be shared with you.

How many sessions are typically needed?

Traditional myofunctional therapy typically includes 12 to 16 weekly sessions, paired with consistent daily home practice to create lasting change. The number of sessions needed depends on the severity of the orofacial myofunctional disorder, as well as whether feeding or speech concerns are also present. When feeding or speech challenges are involved, a longer course of therapy may be necessary.

Our Baby Myo and Mini Myo programs often require fewer sessions—typically 4 to 8 sessions total. These early programs focus on building foundational skills and promoting healthy myofunctional skills and habits. These programs include a personalized home program to support continued progress after weekly therapy ends. When feeding or speech challenges are involved, a longer course of therapy may be necessary.

Session lengths range from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on factors such as the complexity of the concerns, the presence of speech or feeding difficulties, and the client’s attention, engagement, and cooperation during sessions.

Is Myofunctional Therapy evidence-based?

Yes! Myofunctional therapy is supported by a growing body of research across all ages—from infants to adults. Studies show it effectively improves orofacial muscle function, corrects tongue posture, reduces harmful oral habits, and helps with challenges like chewing, swallowing, speech, and even sleep-disordered breathing.

Many clinical trials and case studies confirm that when therapy is tailored to the individual’s needs and paired with consistent daily practice, it leads to meaningful and lasting improvements. While most research focuses on children and adults separately, the fundamental principles apply across the lifespan. Therapists adapt these techniques successfully for younger children and individuals with developmental delays.

In short, myofunctional therapy is not just based on tradition—it’s backed by scientific evidence showing it truly works for people of all ages.

What roles do other professionals play in management of OMDs?

Managing orofacial myofunctional disorders often requires a team approach. Depending on the individual’s needs, other specialists may be involved, including:

Dentists and Orthodontists: Address dental alignment, bite issues, and structural concerns that can impact oral function.
Otolaryngologists (ENTs): Evaluate and treat problems related to the ears, nose, throat, tonsils, adenoids, and airway, which can affect breathing and swallowing.
Airway-centric ENT, dentist, or orthodontist: Specialists focused on airway health, tonsils, adenoids, dental alignment, jaw development, and oral structures to support breathing and function.
Occupational Therapist: Supports attention, sensory processing, and self-regulation skills that can affect oral motor function and therapy engagement—challenges that can sometimes result from myofunctional disorders.
Pediatricians: Monitor overall health and developmental progress, and coordinate care among specialists.
Chiropractors: Help address posture and spinal alignment, which can affect muscle function and overall oral motor coordination.
Sleep Specialists: Address sleep-disordered breathing and related conditions.

Can therapy be helpful in conjunction with procedures like orthodontic work, tongue tie release, or tonsil/adenoid removal?

Yes! Myofunctional therapy plays a vital role both before and after these procedures to ensure the best and most lasting results:

Orthodontic Work: Research shows that without myofunctional therapy, there is a higher risk of orthodontic relapse because persistent oral muscle habits and tongue posture can push teeth out of alignment. Therapy helps retrain these muscles to support and maintain the new dental position.
Tongue Tie Release: After surgery, therapy is essential to retrain tongue movement and teach new functions the tongue couldn’t perform before, such as moving food to the sides for chewing, licking lips and gums to clear food, and creating suction on the roof of the mouth for proper swallowing. Without therapy, old restrictive patterns may return, limiting the benefits of the release.
Tonsil and Adenoid Removal: Enlarged tonsils or adenoids often cause chronic mouth breathing and low tongue posture due to blocked nasal airways. After removal, nasal breathing becomes possible but may feel unfamiliar. Without therapy, mouth breathing may persist, leading to throat irritation, reduced oxygen to the brain, and ongoing sleep-disordered breathing. Therapy helps retrain proper nasal breathing and oral posture for lasting improvement.

Combining surgery or orthodontic treatment with myofunctional therapy addresses both structural and functional issues, leading to more effective and durable outcomes.

What is the weekly home practice like?

Home practice is the foundation of successful myofunctional therapy. Each week, clients are expected to regularly complete the exercises introduced during their session—usually 1 to 3 times daily—to ensure steady progress. Along with these exercises, practicing correct oral rest posture and nasal breathing for longer periods throughout the day plays a significant role in the therapy’s effectiveness.

Additional tools or devices may sometimes be recommended to support your practice at home. Following the home program consistently is essential; without this commitment, progress will likely be limited, and advancing to new exercises won’t be possible.

Consistent home practice is what makes lasting, meaningful improvements possible in myofunctional therapy.

Will I need to purchase any tools or supplies to support therapy?

When you commit to a myofunctional therapy program with Thriveable Therapies, you’ll receive all the essential tools needed for home practice. This includes a hard copy manual of weekly exercises, a daily practice log, and therapeutic tools like chewy tubes, button pulls, and orthodontic elastics.

While your therapist may recommend additional devices or products to further support your progress, therapy can usually still be effective without them. Our goal is to ensure you have everything necessary to succeed at every step.

Why choose myofunctional therapy with a speech therapist?

Orofacial myofunctional therapy can be offered by various professionals, including dentists, orthodontists, dental hygienists, and myofunctional therapists with specialized training. However, speech-language pathologists (speech therapists) are uniquely qualified to provide the most comprehensive care.

Speech therapists are the only professionals trained to assess and treat the full range of related skills—speech, feeding, swallowing, and oral motor function. Because these areas are deeply interconnected, having a therapist who understands all aspects ensures that therapy addresses the whole picture, leading to better and longer-lasting outcomes.

Choosing a speech therapist means you’re working with someone who can tailor therapy to your specific needs, monitor progress across multiple functions, and coordinate care with other specialists when necessary.

How does myofunctional therapy help feeding difficulties?

Myofunctional therapy targets the muscles and movements needed for feeding, like chewing, swallowing, and tongue control. By strengthening and coordinating these muscles, therapy improves sucking, biting, chewing, and safe swallowing. It also helps correct oral posture and reduce habits that interfere with feeding, such as tongue thrusting or poor lip closure. This makes eating more efficient, comfortable, and safe.

Additionally, some children become picky eaters because they struggle to manage food in their mouths, so they learn to avoid certain textures or types of food. Myofunctional therapy combined with feeding therapy can help by improving oral motor skills and confidence, along with sensory skills, making it easier for kids to handle different foods and expand their diets.

How does myofunctional therapy help speech production?

Myofunctional therapy helps improve speech by targeting the muscles and movements of the mouth and tongue that are essential for producing clear sounds. Certain speech sounds—like s, z, r, l, th, and sh—require precise tongue placement and control. If the tongue rests too far forward, presses against the teeth, or moves inefficiently, these sounds can be distorted or mispronounced.

Myofunctional therapy completed by a speech therapist works to correct tongue posture, strengthen oral muscles, and teach new movement patterns for speech production, helping individuals produce these sounds more accurately. It also addresses habits like tongue thrusting or mouth breathing that can interfere with speech clarity.

Can myofunctional therapy be conducted virtually?

Yes! We offer both in-office and virtual therapy options. While we prefer to conduct the initial evaluation in person to get the most thorough assessment, weekly myofunctional therapy sessions can be conveniently done virtually through the Zoom platform. This allows for flexible, ongoing support from the comfort of your home.

Do I need a referral from my doctor?

No, you do not need a referral to begin myofunctional therapy with us. While your doctor may provide one, it’s not required to schedule an evaluation or begin treatment. You can contact us directly to get started.

Doctors can print a copy of our referral form here.

What is the cost of sessions?

We are a private pay practice to ensure flexibility and the highest quality of care without the limitations often imposed by insurance restrictions. Clients pay directly for services, and we provide a superbill—a detailed receipt—that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement depending on your plan. For more details about pricing and payment options, please visit our Payment page or contact us directly. We’re happy to help answer any questions you may have.

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