What Is Myofunctional Therapy? A Parent's Guide

Myofunctional therapy is one of the most misunderstood services we offer at Green Light, so let's break down what it actually is, what it treats, and how to know if your child might benefit.

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy, sometimes called orofacial myology, addresses the muscles and movement patterns of the mouth and face: how the tongue rests, how a child swallows, whether they breathe through their nose or mouth, and how these patterns affect speech, feeding, and facial development.

What Does Myofunctional Therapy Treat?

• Tongue thrust (tongue pushing forward during swallowing or at rest)

• Chronic mouth breathing

• Low, forward, or resting tongue posture

• Certain speech sound errors tied to tongue placement

• Thumb-sucking or pacifier habits that haven't resolved on their own

• Feeding and chewing difficulties linked to oral muscle weakness

Signs Your Child Might Benefit From Myofunctional Therapy

Common signs include an open-mouth resting posture, snoring or noisy breathing during sleep, a lisp or other persistent speech sound difficulty, messy or effortful chewing, and a lasting thumb, finger, or pacifier habit past the age most children outgrow it. None of these on their own is a diagnosis, but together they're worth having evaluated.

What Happens in a Myofunctional Therapy Session?

Sessions are playful and exercise-based, building strength and new muscle memory for tongue posture, swallowing, and nasal breathing through targeted, age-appropriate activities. Many families are surprised at how much a series of small, consistent exercises can shift over a few months.

Is Myofunctional Therapy Right for My Child?

Because myofunctional patterns overlap with speech, feeding, airway, and even orthodontic concerns, the clearest path is a full evaluation. At Green Light, myofunctional therapy is one piece of the same holistic, feeding-speech-myo approach we bring to every child we see across Deerfield and the North Shore of Chicago.

Curious whether your child's habits are something to watch or something to treat? Contact Green Light Speech Therapy to schedule an evaluation.

What are adenoids and how do they impact my child?

Adenoids & Children

Adenoids can be amazing! These lymphatic tissues, located at the back of the nasal passage, play a vital role in the immune system by helping the body combat infections and germs. However, excessively enlarged adenoids can pose significant challenges. When they grow too large, they can obstruct the airway, making nasal breathing difficult. This can impact facial development, speech, and feeding skills. An obstructed airway may also lead to harmful oral habits, such as thumb or finger sucking.

What Does This Have to Do with Speech Therapy? 

Speech therapists with training in orofacial myology are skilled at identifying signs of enlarged adenoids or persistent maladaptive breathing patterns. These airway issues are often at the core of the speech and feeding challenges children experience. By targeting the root cause, therapy provides patients with lasting relief from speech and feeding difficulties they may have thought were insurmountable.

My Adenoids Story:

From the start, my daughter faced challenges with feeding—she often choked and struggled to maintain a latch. She was frequently sick, loved sucking her thumb, and primarily breathed through her mouth. As she grew, these red flags continued, giving me the confirmation I needed to schedule a visit with an ENT.

The ENT confirmed my suspicions, her adenoids were severely enlarged and completely blocking her airway. After surgery, the transformation was incredible—my daughter quickly became a happier, healthier version of herself. Now, we’re focusing on developing a nasal breathing pattern to support proper facial development, which is key for clear speech and effortless eating.

I am so grateful for my knowledge of airway health. It has allowed me to positively impact the lives of so many patients—and most importantly, it gave me the tools to help my own daughter thrive.

What You Can Do:

If your child is struggling with speech or feeding difficulties, reach out to Green Light. We will uncover the root cause of their problem and collaborate with the family to solve the issue once and for all.