Pediatric Speech Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Myofunctional disorders involve how the tongue, lips, and jaw work together at rest and during swallowing or speaking. Left unaddressed, patterns like tongue thrust or mouth breathing can affect speech clarity, dental alignment, and comfort.

It can look like a child who breathes through their mouth even when resting, whose tongue pushes forward when they swallow, or whose speech has a subtle lisp tied to where their tongue rests.

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AGES

4 to 18 years

SESSIONS

30-45 minutes

FORMAT

In-clinic or telepractice

General guideposts

Myofunctional Reference Points

A few general benchmarks worth knowing:

By age 6-8
Most children shift from an infantile to a mature swallowing pattern.
Any age
Nasal breathing at rest is the expected pattern — chronic mouth breathing is worth evaluating regardless of age.
Ongoing
Tongue resting gently on the roof of the mouth, not against the teeth, supports healthy oral development.

General guidance only — every child develops differently. An evaluation gives you an answer specific to your child.

What to look for

Signs Your Child May Benefit

A forward tongue push while swallowing can affect speech sounds and dental development over time.

Habitual mouth breathing, especially at rest or during sleep, is often tied to myofunctional patterns.

Certain lisps and sound distortions trace back to how the tongue rests and moves.

Teeth shifting back after braces can sometimes be traced to unresolved oral muscle patterns.

Extended oral habits past the expected age can contribute to myofunctional patterns worth addressing.

Our process

What to Expect

1

An oral-motor and myofunctional assessment

2

A personalized set of exercises to retrain tongue and lip posture

3

Coordination with your child's dentist, orthodontist, or ENT as needed

Between sessions

How You Can Help at Home

  • • Practice daily oral exercises consistently — a few minutes a day matters more than long occasional sessions.
  • • Gently remind your child about lips-together, nasal breathing during quiet moments.
  • • Address prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier habits alongside therapy, not instead of it.

Frequently asked

Common Questions

Often, yes — we frequently work alongside orthodontists since myofunctional patterns can affect treatment outcomes.

Many programs run several months, since retraining oral muscle patterns takes consistent practice.

Myofunctional therapy is sometimes part of a broader plan for airway and sleep concerns — we can discuss whether that fits your child.

Appointments

Address the root cause, not just the symptom.

Serving families in Calabasas · Agoura Hills · Woodland Hills · West Hills · Westlake Village · Tarzana · Encino · Malibu · Simi Valley · Thousand Oaks · Moorpark

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