Why choose an SLP for Oromyofuncational Therapy?

OroMyofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a type of therapeutic intervention that focuses on the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat. The goal of oromyofunctional therapy is to address and correct improper muscle function and movement patterns in these areas, which can impact various aspects of oral and facial health.

• MUSCLE FUNCTION:
  • OMT involves the assessment and correction of oral and facial muscles’ function. This includes muscles involved in activities such as swallowing, breathing, and facial expressions.  
• SWALLOWING PATTERNS:
  OMT often addresses abnormal swallowing patterns, such as tongue thrust. Tongue thrust is a condition where the tongue pushes against or between the front teeth during swallowing, potentially affecting speech and dental alignment.
  
  WHY an SLP? 
  A speech language pathologist (SLP) is able to further target swallowing as it is within our scope of practice. An SLP is specifically trained to address the oral phase of swallowing. 
• BREATHING PATTERNS
  • The therapy may also focus on improving breathing patterns, especially if there are issues with mouth breathing or improper use of the muscles involved in respiration.
    
    WHY an SLP?
    Breathing is our number on life goal.
    We need breathing to assist in verbal speaking
    Breathing through the nose is critical for safe chewing and swallowing so we don’t inhale partially chewed food
• SPEECH DISORDERS
  OMT is sometimes used as part of speech therapy to address speech disorders related to oral and facial muscle function.
  
  Why an SLP?
  This is an easy one ☺  This is one area that has our name all over it!
• DENTAL AND FACIAL DEVELOPMENT
  Proper oral and facial muscle function is crucial for overall dental and facial development. OMT may be employed to help prevent or address issues such as malocclusion (misalignment of teeth) or facial muscle imbalances.
  
  Why an SLP?
  We start using our facial muscle in utero and continue immediately upon birth.  Eating, drinking and speaking directly play into our overall oral and facial function.  We are eating and drinking before we even have teeth! Targeting function is critical.
• POSTURE
  OroMyofunctional therapists may also assess and address aspects of facial and neck posture, as improper posture can contribute to muscle dysfunction.
  
  Why an SLP?
  Keep in mind that this is oral and facial posture.  Our head and neck need posturing can play a direct role in our function.  If you have ever tried to tip your head backwards and swallow, you can see just how difficult swallowing becomes if you are not in good posture. It is important that posture is ideal in order to support oral facial functions of breathing, eating and speaking.
• COLLABORATION WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
  OMT is often part of a multidisciplinary approach. OroMyofunctional therapists may work closely with dentists, orthodontists, chiropractors, physical therapists, release providers, speech therapists, and other healthcare professionals to address a range of issues related to oral and facial function.
  
  Why an SLP?
  SLPs love to help our patients advocate for themselves and find their voice.  Sometimes we are helping a patient learn to speak and sometimes we are hear to help them learn to be the voice for themselves (and their loved ones) in order to get the care that they need from other medical professionals. 

It’s important to note that OroMyofunctional Therapy should be conducted by a licensed or certified therapist who has undergone specialized training in this field. While many speech language pathologists are uniquely training in oromyofuncational therapy, not all are.  The therapy should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient, and the duration of treatment will vary depending on the specific issues being addressed.

Overall, OroMyofunctional Therapy aims to promote optimal oral and facial muscle function, supporting various aspects of health, including speech, breathing, and oral facial well-being.