Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) focuses on muscles of the face and mouth and teaches clients how to breathe, posture, swallow, and speak correctly. Its main focus is creating a healthy balance between orofacial structure and function. When these functions are impaired, an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) exists.
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The goal of OMT is to help ensure proper oral rest posture which means you have your tongue resting on the roof of your mouth with teeth slightly open and lips sealed while utilizing nasal breathing. We should be using proper oral rest posture at all times unless eating, drinking or talking.
What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD)?
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Hanson (1982) defined OMDs as “abnormal resting labial-lingual posture of the orofacial musculature, atypical chewing and swallowing patterns, dental malocclusions, blocked nasal airways, and speech problems.” This commonly manifests as tongue thrust, open mouth posture, lisping, mouth-breathing, bruxism, clenching, low tongue rest posture and other maladaptive orofacial patterns. OMDs are complex in nature and often involve many areas. Chrysalis Orofacial is interested getting to the bottom of why dysfunction is occurring and then addressing those specific needs.
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OMDs affect all ages and can have a different impact on an individual’s quality of life based on the severity of the disorder and time left untreated. A few examples of untreated OMDs include:
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Poor sleep Snoring
Headaches TMJ pain or jaw locking/popping
Prolonged Oral habits (Thumb sucking, pacifier, etc) Feeding difficulties
Poor speech Mouth always open
Drooling Chapped lips
Crooked teeth Long facial growth
Recessed chin Heart-shaped tongue
Enlarged tonsils Difficulty nasal breathing
Dark circles under eyes Difficulty swallowing
Teeth grinding Bedwetting
Frequent Ear Infections Digestive Issues
Depression/Anxiety Fatigue
Daytime Drowsiness ADD/ADHD
Teeth Clenching Relapse of Orthodontic Treatment
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What Happens During an Evaluation?
Please complete all patient intake information online prior to arriving for the evaluation through the portal link emailed to you. Evaluations typically last 1-1.5 hours and will provide an in-depth functional assessment of breathing, oral rest posture, chewing and swallowing patterns, and speech. This evaluation typically includes a review of health history and symptoms, photo documentation, measurements, orofacial movement tasks, and observations. Our therapists will take the information from health history/symptoms and help connect the dots with the results of the evaluation. Referrals and recommendations will then be made as appropriate.
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What is a tongue/lip/cheek tie? What symptoms are related? How do I know whether a tie needs to be addressed?
Are sleeping issues related to a myofunctional disorder? Is snoring a problem?
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Are oral habits a concern? When does an oral habit require intervntion from an orofacial myologist?
What is proper swallowing technique? How is swallowing connected to eating and digestive issues?
Resource Guides for Families
Infant and Pediatric Feeding Services
Our clinicians at Chrysalis Orofacial are licensed Speech Language Pathologists who specialize in orofacial function and development. Under our license, we have the unique ability to treat orofacial development and function across the lifespan, birth and beyond! Our clinicians have enhanced their knowledge and skills through continuing education courses that range from addressing positioning at the breast, bottle feeding, starting solids, increasing oral motor skills to support chewing a variety of textures, helping picky eaters increase food acceptance, preventing myofunctional disorders in the birth to three population, as well as specialty courses for specific diagnoses and populations. Our therapists ability to target myofunctional development and airway health sets them apart in the way they enhance the lives of their patients for future success.
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Infant Evaluation
Transitioning into life with a newborn is hectic, and the last thing you need is added stress from a baby who is having difficulty feeding. Whether you have concerns for breast feeding, bottle feeding or starting solids, our clinicians are here to help!
Our skilled therapist will complete a comprehensive evaluation reviewing past medical, developmental and feeding history. Our clinicians will observe your baby feeding, examine how the oral facial muscles are functioning and then visually assess the structures of the mouth, including the frenulum of the tongue, lips and cheeks. At the end of the evaluation, your therapist will go over findings with you and build a treatment plan to support your feeding and airway goals for your child. Other referrals may be made as warranted.
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Toddler Feeding Evaluation
During the initial assessment, clinicians will collect past medical and developmental history. We will ask about feeding history, including how breast or bottle feeding went in infancy, if there was difficulty transitioning to solids as well as current eating habits and concerns. Our clinicians will assess breathing patterns, oral rest posture, muscle function, and how the muscles work to eat and drink. Pictures and measurements will be taken throughout the evaluation to obtain a full picture of how your child is growing and developing. At the end of the evaluation, our clinicians will review findings with you and then make a treatment plan that supports feeding skills, airway health and orofacial growth and development.
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have certain types of health care coverage or who are not using certain types of health care coverage an estimate of their bill for health care items and services before those items or services are provided.
• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any health care items or services upon request or when scheduling such items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
• If you schedule a health care item or service at least 3 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule a health care item or service at least 10 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after scheduling. You can also ask any health care provider or facility for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you do, make sure the health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after you ask.
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more for any provider or facility than your Good Faith Estimate from that provider or facility, you can dispute the bill.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers, email FederalPPDRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov, or call 1-800-985-3059.