Beyond Articulation: Building a Stronger Foundation for Clear Speech
As a parent, there is nothing more rewarding than hearing your child’s voice develop as they begin to share their thoughts, stories, and dreams. But when developmental milestones are delayed or challenges in articulation arise, it’s natural to feel concerned. For many families in Meridian, Idaho, traditional speech therapy is the first step. While it is an essential part of the solution, sometimes, persistent speech issues have deeper, muscular roots that need to be addressed for therapy to be truly effective.
This is where the structure and function of the facial and oral muscles come into play. If the underlying “hardware”—the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate—isn’t working correctly, achieving clear and consistent speech can be an uphill battle. At Center for Orofacial Myology, we specialize in identifying and treating these foundational issues to help your child’s speech therapy succeed.
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Think of it like physical therapy for the face and mouth. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a specialized discipline that focuses on retraining the muscles of the mouth and face to function properly. It corrects improper patterns in breathing, chewing, swallowing, and—most importantly for this conversation—speaking.
An Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) occurs when there is an abnormal resting posture of the lips or tongue, or an incorrect swallowing pattern. These disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use
- A restricted lingual frenulum, commonly known as a tongue-tie
- Chronic allergies or enlarged tonsils leading to mouth breathing
- Genetic predisposition to certain facial structures
OMDs can directly impact speech development, facial growth, and even airway health, affecting everything from sleep quality to a child’s ability to focus in school.
How OMT and Speech Therapy Create a Powerful Partnership
Traditional speech therapy works on the specific sounds (articulation) and language rules. OMT prepares the mouth to be able to produce those sounds correctly and effortlessly. When combined, these two therapies create a comprehensive approach that addresses both the “how” and the “why” of speech challenges.
Building a Strong Muscular Foundation
You wouldn’t build a house on an unstable foundation. Similarly, asking a child to produce an “L” or “R” sound is incredibly difficult if their tongue lacks the strength, coordination, or proper resting posture. OMT strengthens the tongue and surrounding muscles, giving the speech-language pathologist a capable and prepared foundation to build upon.
Correcting Tongue Thrust Swallowing
A “tongue thrust” is a swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes forward against the teeth. This same forward motion can happen during speech, causing lisps and difficulty with sounds like /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/, and /n/. OMT helps retrain the swallow, keeping the tongue in its proper place and making articulation therapy far more effective.
Promoting Nasal Breathing for Better Focus
Children who are chronic mouth breathers often have low tongue posture, which impacts a range of functions. Our comprehensive airway evaluations can identify these issues. By promoting nasal breathing, OMT can improve sleep quality, which leads to better focus, attention, and energy—all crucial for making progress in therapy sessions.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from an Integrated Approach
If your child is in speech therapy but progress has stalled, or if you notice some of the following signs, an orofacial myofunctional evaluation may be the missing piece of the puzzle:
- Mouth Breathing: Lips are often apart at rest, during sleep, or while concentrating.
- Persistent Articulation Errors: Especially lisps or difficulty with “r”, “l”, “t”, and “d” sounds.
- Messy or Picky Eating: Challenges with chewing and swallowing can be linked to poor oral motor skills. Consider our specialized feeding therapy program.
- History of Thumb Sucking: Prolonged non-nutritive habits can alter the development of the palate and jaw. We offer a positive habit elimination program.
- Dental Crowding or Misalignment: Improper tongue posture can impact how teeth come in.
- Drooling: Especially in children past the age of two.
Did You Know?
The tongue is a powerhouse made of eight different muscles. Its proper resting position is gently suctioned to the roof of the mouth, not lying on the floor of the mouth. This simple posture influences everything from facial development and breathing to speech clarity.
Integrated Care for Meridian and Treasure Valley Families
At the Center for Orofacial Myology, we are proud to offer a collaborative and holistic approach for families in Meridian, Boise, Eagle, and across the Treasure Valley. Instead of sending you to multiple specialists, our team of experts works together under one roof. We assess the whole picture—from oral motor function and feeding to physical therapy and airway health—to create a unified treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your child’s challenges.
This integrated model means better communication, more streamlined care, and ultimately, better and more lasting results for your child. We believe in empowering parents with knowledge and providing children with the tools they need to thrive.
Ready to Discover the Missing Piece?
If you suspect an underlying orofacial myofunctional disorder could be impacting your child’s speech development, we are here to help. An evaluation can provide the answers and clarity your family needs to move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between speech therapy and OMT?
Speech therapy focuses on the “output”—correcting articulation errors and building language skills. OMT focuses on the “system”—retraining the oral and facial muscles to create the proper foundation for functions like speaking, swallowing, and breathing. They are complementary, not exclusive.
At what age can a child begin OMT?
OMT can be beneficial for individuals of all ages. For children, we often begin therapy around age four or five when they can actively participate in exercises. However, early intervention for issues like tongue-tie and feeding challenges can start in infancy.
How will I know if my child’s speech problem is caused by an OMD?
A comprehensive evaluation with a trained orofacial myologist is the best way to determine if an OMD is present. Our team will assess your child’s oral structures, breathing patterns, swallowing function, and speech to identify any underlying issues that may be hindering progress.
Can you work with our family’s current speech therapist?
Absolutely. We believe in a collaborative approach and are happy to coordinate with your child’s existing speech-language pathologist. By working together, we can ensure that both therapies are aligned to achieve the best possible outcomes for your child.
Glossary of Terms
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT): The therapeutic practice of retraining the oral and facial muscles to correct functional imbalances and improper patterns.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD): An atypical pattern of the oral and facial muscles that interferes with normal growth, development, or function. This includes issues like tongue thrust and improper oral rest posture.
Tongue Thrust: An oral pattern where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing or speaking.
Ankyloglossia (Tongue-Tie): A condition present at birth that restricts the tongue’s range of motion due to an unusually short, thick, or tight band of tissue (lingual frenulum) tethering the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth.
Articulation: The physical act of producing speech sounds using the tongue, lips, teeth, and palate.