What are the Symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

Orofacial Myofunctional disorders (also referred to as OMDs) are conditions that affect the muscles in the face and mouth. These disorders inhibit the normal development, function, and growth of these muscles resulting in significant challenges with speech production and overall communication. Individuals of all ages can be affected by these conditions, and the impact on communication can be severe. 

Orofacial Myofunctional disorders often result from childhood habits, such as thumbsucking. Early identification and intervention from healthcare professionals and speech and language pathologists are essential for the effective management of the condition and related communication challenges.  

If you want to learn more about virtual speech therapy or are ready to get yourself or a loved one started on the path to clearer communication, connect with us by scheduling your free introductory call today! 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder? How Does Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder Affect Speech?

The signs and symptoms of OMDs often vary significantly from case to case. One of the most commonly identified symptoms relating to Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder is the presence of mouth breathing habits (instead of breathing through the nose.) Other frequently identified symptoms of OMDs include: 

The Presence of a Lisp: An individual with a lisp struggles to produce or properly articulate specific speech sounds. The most common sound that is mispronounced by someone with a lisp is the “s” or “z” sound. This is known as a frontal lisp, and the individual will make a “th” sound instead of the desired “s” sound. 

Unintelligible Speech: It is common for those with OMDs to also struggle to produce other speech sounds. This can make it difficult to be understood by others, as these challenges often accompany the above-mentioned frontal lisp. 

Dental Issues: Oral differences are often common in cases of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. Individuals may have a significant overbite or an open bite, in which the teeth don’t touch even when the mouth is closed. An atypical dental arch, misaligned teeth, and challenges with dentures later in life are all symptoms related to OMDs. 

Chewing & Eating Challenges: Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders can make it challenging for individuals to chew, eat, and drink in some scenarios. OMDs can affect swallowing functions, often causing individuals to need more time to eat and frequent spills from the mouth throughout mealtimes. They may also be abnormally noisy when eating and chewing. 

Mouth-Breathing: As mentioned above, mouth breathing is one of the most commonly identified characteristics of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. In most cases, the body naturally adapts the habit of mouth breathing to ensure adequate amounts of oxygen reach the lungs. Long-term mouth-breathing can result in negative effects on the natural resting position of the tongue, lips, and jaw. 

If you or someone close to you is exhibiting any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it's a good idea to consult with an experienced speech and language pathologist. Connecting with us and getting started with speech therapy is as easy as scheduling your free introductory call today!

What Causes Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

OMDs can be caused by a variety of factors, with many cases relating to both environmental and genetic elements. One of the most commonly identified causes of OMDs is prolonged childhood habits such as thumbsucking, soother use, or tongue thrusting, as these habits can significantly impact oral function development. Some physiological differences can impact tongue placement and lead to the development of an OMD, such as a narrow palate or enlarged tonsils. 

Sometimes, the presence of an Orofacial Myofunctional disorder is connected to certain breathing patterns. Long-term mouth breathing, for example, can impact oral muscle function. Improper chewing or swallowing techniques and poor posture can also contribute to OMDs.

Some neurological conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy or Muscular Dystrophy have also been connected to Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. Identifying underlying conditions and contributing factors is crucial for the effective treatment of an OMD. 

What is an Orofacial Dysfunction?

The term “Orofacial Dysfunction” is used interchangeably with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder in reference to a condition involving abnormal development or function of the facial and oral muscles. 

How are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders Treated?

The first step for the treatment of an OMD is to consult with a healthcare professional. From there, a referral to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (known as an ENT) for a specialized evaluation often follows. An ENT is able to identify or rule out the presence of certain structural differences or physiological abnormalities. In some cases, the doctor will recommend removal of the tonsil or adenoids. 

Speech and language pathologists also play an important role in the treatment of Orofacial Myofunctional disorders. Speech therapy for OMDs typically focuses on establishing proper tongue resting position and addressing specific speech challenges related to the disorder. 

Some of the most commonly used speech therapy exercises for Orofacial Myofunctional disorders include oral muscle exercises that focus on improving the strength and coordination of the face and mouth muscles. Speech therapy may also focus on establishing a “lips together” mouth posture but isolating the muscles in the lips and improving their strength. 

Speech therapy for children with OMDs often includes support for eliminating certain habits that are contributing to the disorder, such as thumb-sucking. Speech and language pathologists have a wealth of knowledge and tools to share with parents to help get rid of these habits and encourage proper positioning of the jaw and teeth. 

Improving articulation is also a primary focus of speech therapy for OMDs, and the speech therapist will help the individual to articulate clearly and correctly, especially the “s”, “z”, and “sh” sounds. 

These approaches combined can help individuals of any age improve the strength and coordination of the facial and oral muscles and speak clearly and with confidence. If you want to learn more about speech therapy for Orofacial Myofunctional disorders or are ready to get started, simply schedule your free introductory call today!