OROFACIAL MYOLOGY - FAQs

Orofacial Myology focuses on how the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue work together during everyday activities such as breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

When these muscles are not functioning in a coordinated way, it can influence speech clarity, breathing patterns, sleep, oral habits, and dental development. 

Orofacial Myology Therapy (OMT) aims to improve the strength, coordination, and positioning of these muscles to support more efficient oral function.

OMT begins with an assessment of oral muscle function, breathing patterns, tongue posture and swallowing. Based on this information, an individualised therapy plan is created.

Treatment typically includes targeted exercises and strategies designed to improve muscle coordination, support appropriate tongue placement, and encourage healthy breathing and swallowing patterns. 

Referrals to other professionals are also likely. 

OMT is often delivered by Speech Pathologists or Dental Professionals with training in this area. In some cases, therapy may also involve collaboration with dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, sleep physicians, skeletal professionals or other health specialists to ensure both functional and structural factors are addressed.  

OMT can help address a range of concerns related to oral muscle function, including:

• Mouth breathing or snoring
• Tongue thrust swallowing patterns
• Low tongue posture
• Jaw discomfort or difficulty chewing
• Restrictive oral tissues (tongue ties)
• Speech sound difficulties
• Facial tension or headache
• Thumb or finger suckers

OMT can be beneficial for both children and adults. 

For younger children, support may focus more on developing healthy oral habits, breathing patterns, and muscle awareness with guidance from parents or caregivers.

Adults can also benefit from OMT, particularly if they experience concerns such as mouth breathing, snoring, jaw tension, swallowing difficulties, or speech concerns.

Your clinician will determine whether OMT is appropriate based on your specific circumstances. 

The muscles of the mouth and tongue influence how the teeth and jaw develop over time. Certain patterns, such as mouth breathing or incorrect tongue positioning, may contribute to dental alignment concerns.

These may include crowded teeth, gaps between teeth, overbites, or crossbites. Environmental factors such as prolonged pacifier use, extended bottle or sippy cup use, and breathing habits may also play a role.

Supporting healthy oral muscle function can complement dental or orthodontic treatment and promote improved oral health.

A referral is not usually required to access OMT with a Speech Pathologist. Clients are welcome to contact the clinic directly if they have concerns about sleep, breathing patterns, tongue posture, oral habits, speech, or oral muscle function.

In some cases, clients may be referred by other professionals such as dentists, orthodontists, doctors, or other allied health providers who have identified concerns related to oral function.

OMT often works best when there is collaboration between professionals. If needed, your Speech Pathologist may liaise with your dentist, orthodontist, or medical team to ensure a coordinated approach to care.

Yes. OMT can support children who have ongoing thumb or finger sucking habits.

While sucking behaviours are common in infancy and early childhood, habits that continue for longer periods may influence oral muscle patterns, tongue posture, and dental development.

We can work with children and families to gently reduce thumb sucking habits by building awareness, supporting alternative strategies, and encouraging healthy oral muscle function.

Addressing these habits early may help support typical speech development, breathing patterns, and dental alignment and more.

Tongue ties are forms of tethered oral tissues. This means the small pieces of tissue that connect the tongue to the mouth are tighter or shorter than usual, which may restrict movement.

When these tissues limit the typical movement of the tongue, it can sometimes affect functions such as feeding, chewing, swallowing, speech, breathing, and oral muscle development.

Not all tongue ties cause difficulties, but when restrictions impact everyday function, support may be helpful.

Speech Pathologists trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can assess oral muscle function and identify whether a restriction may be contributing to difficulties. Therapy may focus on improving oral muscle coordination and function, and in some cases collaboration with dentists, doctors, ENTs or other health professionals may be recommended.