Myofunctional speech therapy is a type of therapy that helps to improve the function of the muscles in the mouth and throat. These muscles are responsible for producing speech sounds. The goal of myofunctional speech therapy is to help the muscles work together more effectively so that a person can produce clear speech sounds.
There are many reasons why orofacial myology speech therapy may be recommended for a person. For example, if a person has difficulty producing certain speech sounds, myofunctional speech therapy can help to improve their production of those sounds. Myofunctional speech therapy can also help a person who has difficulty swallowing.
Swallowing difficulties can lead to aspiration, which is when food or liquids enter the lungs instead of being swallowed into the stomach. Aspiration can cause coughing, choking, and even pneumonia. Myofunctional speech therapy can help to prevent aspiration by teaching a person how to swallow correctly.
Myofunctional speech therapy can also be beneficial for people who have been diagnosed with a cleft palate or other craniofacial anomalies. People with cleft palate often have difficulty producing certain speech sounds correct due to the abnormality in the structure of their palate. Myofunctional speech therapy can help these individuals produce clearer speech sounds.
In addition, myofunctional speech therapy can help people who have vocal cord paralysis or other disorders that affect the muscles used for speaking. By helping these individuals improve the function of their affected muscles, my ofunctional speech therapy can improve their ability to produce clear speech sounds.