RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

A QUICK GUIDE to MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY FOR PARENTS

If you are on this page your child has likely been referred for Myofunctional Therapy to a Myofunctional Therapist. As a parent, you are concerned about your child's health. At Integrative Myofunctional Therapy, we are here to help you with knowledge and expertise about Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders [OMDs], as well as help with a therapeutic regimen designed to address the symptoms of your child’s OMDs.

What can I expect?

We are available to talk with you over the telephone to answer your initial questions about potential therapy. The best way to definitively evaluate if your child might benefit from OMT is to schedule a comprehensive OMD Assessment in one of our 2 offices. The OMD Assessment usually takes about 90 minutes and involves taking a thorough health history, measurements, palpation, diagnostic photographs and videos. Following the OMD Assessment, treatment options and answers to questions are discussed. Within our philosophy of treatment, we do not believe that pressuring anyone into therapy is appropriate, but that with information, and the right timing, we are ready to join you in your decision to engage in OMT on the pathway to wellness and optimal health for your child.

REAL MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

What are some potential signs or symptoms of OMD?

Tongue thrust
Tongue Tie
Lip Tie
Mouth Breathing
Drooling
Thumb/Finger/Object Sucking
Nail Biting
Lip Picking/Biting
Misaligned Teeth
Bruxing/Grinding/Clenching
Fitful Sleeping
Behavioral Aggression

Why are OMDs a problem?

The most important thing to understand about OMDs in children is that OMDs may affect ultimate growth and development for your child. Children who are mouth breathers, droolers or thumb/pacifier suckers may develop a long narrow face and/or a high narrow palate and may be at risk for sleep and airway disorders as they mature. Children have the healthiest opportunity to develop into their most attractive selves when they are able and encouraged to breathe through their noses, have proper tongue position and chew and swallow correctly. These are only a few of the reasons that Oral Facial Myofunctional Therapy is a valuable and essential component to overall development and wellness for your child.

Comparative Illustration of Facial Feature Development of Mouth-Breather vs. Nasal Breather

What causes OMDs?

Many things, including but not limited to:

Allergies
Enlarged Tonsils or Adenoids
Excessive Thumb/Finger/Object Sucking, Pacifier or Bottle usage
Tongue Tie/Lip Tie
Para-Functional Habits
Genetics

How Integrative Myofunctional Therapy Helps Your Child

At Integrative Myofunctional Therapy, we will assess and develop a customized treatment plan to help your child improve or eliminate their Oral Facial Myofunctional Disorders which we anticipate, with compliance, should result in overall improved development and function.