Orofacial Myology

Children, teenagers, and adults may suffer from OMDs. OMDS may interfere with normal growth and development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth. OMDs may also interfere with how these muscles are used for eating, talking, and breathing. People who have an OMD may also have problems with talking, swallowing, and breathing through their nose. Some children push out their tongue when they talk, drink, or eat. This is called tongue thrusting or fronting, and it is one type of OMD.

Just because a person has some or all of these symptoms does not mean that they have an OMD. Always see a professional for more information.

Some signs of an OMD may include the following:

• Someone who always breathes through the mouth or has difficulty breathing through the nose.
• Limited tongue movement.
• Eating may be messy or difficult. Keep in mind that it is normal for babies to stick their tongue out and push food out of their mouth. Over time, they do this less.
• An overbite, underbite, and/or other dental problems.
• The tongue pushing past the teeth, even when a person is not talking or using the tongue.
• Difficulty saying some sounds, like "s" in "sun," "sh" in "ship," or "j" in "jump."
• Drooling, especially beyond age 2.
• Difficulty closing the lips to swallow.

Speech issues: Movement and position of the tongue and lips are crucial in order to properly form sounds. When the tongue is restrained through a tongue-tie, it may cause difficulty forming some sounds and words. Some people are able to compensate for this lack of mobility, but not everyone. In those situations, the only way to properly produce the sound is to release the tongue so it can move. Some patients go through years of speech therapy with minimal improvement until their tongue-tie is released.

Infants and solid food: Infants with tongue-ties sometimes have difficulty when they first encounter solid foods.

If your child is below age-level in mobility, communication, fine motor, self-help, or feeding skills. Our goal is to help children and families with developing skills when delays in development of observed.

Call one of our clinics and schedule a time that is convenient for you. For full evaluations, we will request insurance and medical information so you can be sure of your financial obligation. Screenings are always free and are a way to determine if your child’s skills need a closer look through a full evaluation.

We accept all major insurance providers and file claims through your provider before issuing a statement of balance owed. We collect co-pays at the time of service as required by your specific insurance plan. To determine what your insurance plan will cover, or if there are limits to coverage, contact your insurance provider for more information.

Children and individuals who receive orofacial myology often benefit from additional services related to feeding, fine motor skills, and sensory integration. Anne Carlsen is able to meet those needs through our occupational therapists, behavioral health, mental health, or early intervention services.