Myofunctional Therapy: Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Speech Therapy in Quebec
Does your child push their tongue against their teeth when swallowing, breathe through the mouth, or keep the mouth open at rest? Orofacial myofunctional therapy retrains these habits, and the speech-language pathologist is one of the professionals trained to deliver it.
Assessment and therapy for swallowing and orofacial functions, in person or by telepractice anywhere in Quebec.
The speech-language pathologist's role and collaboration
The speech-language pathologist, a member of the Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec (OOAQ), is involved in the assessment and rehabilitation of swallowing just as much as in speech or language. They first assess whether an orofacial myofunctional disorder is present, then set out a therapy plan to correct the swallowing motor pattern and rebalance the orofacial functions.
This work is often done in collaboration with the dentist or the orthodontist, who take care of the teeth, and with the physician or the ENT (otolaryngologist) for medical causes. Each one works within their own field of expertise. You can meet our team of speech-language pathologists to learn about their training.
The speech-language pathologist retrains the function of the oral structures; the dentist and the orthodontist take care of the structure of the teeth.
What is myofunctional therapy?
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Myofunctional therapy, or orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), aims to restore the proper functioning of the muscles of the mouth and the face. It corrects habits such as inadequate swallowing, mouth breathing, or a resting tongue posture that is not optimal.
These habits look harmless, but repeated day after day, they may influence the position of the teeth, speech, and everyday comfort. OMT works on the functions of the mouth through targeted exercises.
The functions we work on
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Myofunctional therapy focuses on the main functions of the mouth, which all rest on good muscle balance:
- Swallowing, that is, the way we swallow
- Breathing, ideally through the nose rather than the mouth
- Tongue posture and lip closure at rest
- Chewing on both sides of the mouth
Atypical swallowing
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Atypical swallowing, also called tongue thrust, is a way of swallowing in which the tongue pushes forward, against the teeth or between them, instead of resting against the palate. It can affect children, teens, and adults.
Over time, this repeated thrust may move the teeth and complicate orthodontic treatment. It is sometimes accompanied by speech sound distortions, such as a lisp.
Correcting swallowing before or after orthodontics may help preserve the results of the dental treatment.
Mouth breathing
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Habitually breathing through the mouth rather than the nose may alter tongue posture, the balance of the facial muscles, and sleep quality. It is not trivial for the teeth either: a study of 3,017 children showed that mouth breathing is closely associated with several forms of malocclusion, such as open bite and crossbite. It is a frequent reason for an orofacial myofunctional assessment.
Mouth breathing often has a cause that should first be clarified medically (allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, nasal obstruction). A medical or ENT opinion is therefore important before or during therapy.
Signs that may lead to an assessment
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Some observations are worth a consultation, in children and adults alike:
- Tongue pushing against the teeth when swallowing
- Mouth breathing, or an open mouth at rest
- A tendency to choke or to eat with the mouth open
- A sucking habit (thumb, fingers, objects) that persists
- Speech sound distortions such as a lisp
- Concern about relapse after orthodontic treatment
These signs may have several causes. An assessment brings clarity, and a medical opinion is recommended if needed.
How does the therapy work?
After the assessment, therapy relies on targeted, progressive exercises that strengthen or relax the muscles involved. The goal is to replace the unwanted habit with a more desirable pattern.
Your participation is essential: the exercises are practised mainly at home, between appointments. It is that consistency that builds lasting new habits, without any specific result being guaranteed in advance.
For children, teens, and adults
Myofunctional therapy adapts to age. With young children, the work is mostly about awareness and prevention; with teens and adults, it restores the right patterns.
For an overview of the clients we support, see the populations we help.
In person or by telepractice
Orofacial myofunctional therapy lends itself well to telepractice, by secure video session, anywhere in Quebec. In-person sessions are also available.
Our speech-language pathologists welcome clients in Val-d’Or, in Mont-Laurier, and in the South-West of Montreal, in French, in English, or bilingually.
Unsure about swallowing or breathing?
A free 15-minute call is a chance to take stock and determine whether an orofacial myofunctional assessment is indicated.
Frequently asked questions about myofunctional therapy
Frequently asked questions about myofunctional therapy
At what age can myofunctional therapy be done?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy adapts to any age. With the youngest children, the focus is mainly on awareness and prevention; once the maturity needed to do the exercises is there, the work actively corrects the habits. The speech-language pathologist determines the right time during the assessment.
Is a referral from the dentist or the orthodontist required?
No referral is needed to book an appointment at a private clinic. That said, myofunctional therapy is often done in collaboration with the dentist or the orthodontist, and a medical or ENT opinion may be useful to clarify mouth breathing.
Does myofunctional therapy correct the teeth?
No. The speech-language pathologist corrects the swallowing motor pattern and the orofacial functions, which may help preserve the results of an orthodontic treatment. Moving the teeth is the responsibility of the dentist or the orthodontist.
Is it covered by insurance?
Speech therapy is not covered by the RAMQ at a private clinic, but most private insurance plans reimburse part of the fees when the speech-language pathologist is a member of the OOAQ, and the service is non-taxable. The details are on our speech therapy fees page.