Myofunctional Therapy
Our office now offers Myofunctional therapy services to our patients with our hygienist Shelby Randolph. If your child suffers from sleep disordered breathing (SDB), it may not simply be enough to remove tonsils and adenoids, revise tongue and lip ties, and stretch the palate. Older children have spent years using their tongue and jaws in a dysfunctional manner. This leads to bad habits and changes to how they use their muscles. To receive the full benefit of SDB interventions, should work with a Myofunctional Therapist. Myofunctional therapy has been shown to reduce sleep apnea episodes in children over the age of 6. It can eliminate the need for a CPAP machine, and leads to better sleep and cognitive function.
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on the muscles of the face, tongue, and jaw. The therapy is targeted towards the muscles used for eating, swallowing, and breathing. Myofunctional therapists are trained to analyze current muscle weaknesses and bad habits, and to develop a series of exercises to strengthen those muscles and correct bad habits. We are now able to offer myofunctional therapy to our dental patients. This therapy can be used in conjunction with
dental appliances to improve motor function and to reduce obstructions during sleep.
Common Symptoms & Disorders Treated
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Tongue Thrust
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Stubborn speech disorders
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Mouth breathing and open bite
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Improper swallowing patterns
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Sleep apnea and snoring
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Jaw Pain and neck tension
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Tongue and lip ties
How can Myofunctional Therapy improve my child's sleep and behavior?
The tongue, throat, and face muscles play a major role in sleep disordered breathing. When these muscles are week, they may not be able to maintain the integrity of the airway. The tongue and other muscles obstruct the airway, resulting in sleep apnea.In addition, even if other causes of apnea. In addition, even if other causes of apnea are addressed, years of not using these muscles correctly can lead to an open-mouthed posture that encourages mouth breathing or a low lying tongue that can obstruct the windpipe, especially when children sleep on their back. Myofunctional therapy trains and strengthens the muscles so that children can keep the airway clear. It reduces the risk of apnea, which means children get better sleep and as a result have healthier brains and better behavior.
How can I help my child succeed in therapy?
Like any other kind of physical or occupational therapy, myofunctional therapy works best when the patient receives support at home. Your child’s therapist may give you a list of daily exercises to be done at home. You can help your child remember to do the exercises and walk them through them. The therapist may also suggest
certain foods and eating methods. For instance, some therapists have children drink yogurt through a straw to improve lip, tongue, and cheek control. When the
therapist suggests a specific, at-home intervention for your child, put it in place.
Finally, it’s important that your child receive therapy consistently. Keep all therapy appointments. When there’s a conflict, reschedule therapy so that you child doesn’t miss a session. The sooner they complete therapy, the sooner their sleep and cognitive function will improve.
How long will be child need Myofunctional Therapy?
Every child has unique therapy needs. However, several variables affect the length of treatment:
The Age of the Child.
Younger children generally need less therapy, because they have spent less time using muscles improperly and bad habits are less entrenched.
The severity of the muscle issues.
Children with more severe issues usually need more therapy.
Work done at home.
Children who do their daily exercises and comply with treatment recommendations tend to graduate from therapy earlier than children
who confine their work to scheduled sessions.
Other Diagnoses.
Children with conditions such as cerebral palsy or apraxia may need more therapy than children without other diagnoses.
