Why You Need a Speech Pathologist for Myofunctional Therapy

Why Milwaukee Families Choose a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist for Myofunctional Therapy

Over the last few years, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy has become a popular topic in pediatric health. Parents hear about it from orthodontists, dentists, and even social media discussions about mouth breathing, tongue posture, and airway health.

Because of this growing awareness, more providers are offering treatment labeled as myofunctional therapy. Dental offices, orthodontic clinics, and some dental hygienists now include oral exercises as part of their services.

This surge of interest has created a new problem: parents are unsure who they should actually see for treatment.

Is it a dental issue because it involves teeth and jaw development? Or is it a speech and swallowing issue because it involves tongue movement?

The answer is both—but the roles are different.

Dentists and orthodontists play a critical role in correcting structure, such as teeth alignment and jaw position. However, function—how the tongue, lips, and muscles work during speaking, breathing, and swallowing—falls within the medical scope of a Speech-Language Pathologist.

This is why families seeking Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy often benefit from seeing a trained SLP who understands the neurological and muscular coordination behind these patterns.

The Scope of Practice: SLP vs. RDH

Understanding the Difference

When parents begin researching therapy for oral habits like tongue thrust, mouth breathing, or swallowing problems, they often encounter two types of professionals: dental hygienists and speech-language pathologists.

Both can play valuable roles in oral health, but their training and medical scope are very different.

Dental Hygienists (RDH)

Registered dental hygienists are experts in oral hygiene and preventive dental care. Their training focuses primarily on:

• Cleaning teeth and preventing gum disease

• Monitoring dental health

• Supporting orthodontic treatment

Some hygienists pursue additional courses in myofunctional therapy and may provide exercises intended to strengthen oral muscles.

However, their professional scope does not include diagnosing or treating swallowing disorders (dysphagia) or speech articulation disorders. These are medical communication disorders that require advanced clinical training.

Speech Pathologists (SLP)

Speech-language pathologists are medically trained specialists who study the neurology and motor planning of the mouth and throat. Their expertise includes:

• Swallowing function

• Speech production

• Oral motor coordination

• Feeding development

• Airway-related oral habits

SLPs evaluate not just what the tongue looks like, but how it functions in real-life activities such as eating, drinking, breathing, and speaking.

Why This Distinction Matters

If a provider can only teach oral exercises but cannot address swallowing patterns or speech production, only part of the problem is being treated.

Tongue posture, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech are deeply connected systems. When one is ignored, the pattern often returns.

In other words, treating muscles alone without addressing function may only solve half of the issue.

It’s Not Just “Tongue Pushups”—It’s Swallowing

Many people assume pediatric myofunctional therapy consists of simple exercises for the tongue. While muscle strengthening is part of the process, the true focus is much more complex.

The key functional behavior involved in these conditions is swallowing.

Why Swallowing Matters

The average person swallows between 500 and 1,000 times every day. Each swallow requires precise coordination of the tongue, jaw, and throat muscles.

If that swallow pattern is incorrect—such as pushing the tongue forward against the teeth instead of lifting it to the palate—the pressure can slowly reshape dental alignment and facial growth.

This pattern is commonly known as tongue thrust.

If therapy focuses only on exercises without retraining the swallow itself, the body simply returns to its original habit during daily swallowing.

The Medical Advantage of SLP Care

Speech-language pathologists are trained to evaluate the safety and efficiency of swallowing.

This type of evaluation is not guesswork. It includes clinical observation of oral motor coordination and swallowing patterns to determine whether the process is working properly.

When therapy includes structured swallow retraining, progress tends to be more stable and lasting.

Families who need support with these issues may benefit from Feeding and Swallowing Therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

The Hidden Link Between Myofunctional Patterns and Speech

Another reason families seek help is because oral muscle patterns can influence speech clarity.

Many children with oral myofunctional disorders develop articulation differences such as:

• A frontal lisp

• Difficulty with the “S” sound

• Trouble producing the “R” sound

These patterns occur because the tongue is consistently positioned forward instead of resting against the palate.

The Referral Problem

If a child receives therapy from a provider who cannot treat speech disorders, the next step is usually a referral to a speech therapist.

This means the child now has to see two providers—one for oral exercises and another for speech therapy.

A More Integrated Solution

At Mequon Speech and Learning Connection, these challenges are addressed together.

Speech production and oral muscle function are evaluated in the same treatment plan. This integrated approach allows therapists to improve articulation while simultaneously correcting tongue posture and swallowing patterns.

Families often appreciate this coordinated care because it reduces appointments, confusion, and overlapping treatment plans.

Parents interested in speech support alongside oral motor therapy can explore Speech and Articulation Therapy options as part of a comprehensive evaluation.

Expert Care for Tongue Ties Before and After Treatment

Another area where specialized therapy is essential is the treatment of tongue ties.

A tongue-tie release procedure, often called a frenectomy, can improve tongue mobility. However, the surgery itself does not automatically teach the tongue how to move correctly.

Why Therapy Matters Before and After a Release

Pre-procedure therapy prepares the tongue muscles and improves coordination before surgery. This allows the body to adapt more easily once the restriction is removed.

Post-procedure therapy is equally important. Without functional rehabilitation, the tongue may revert to old movement patterns.

This is why structured therapy focuses on:

• Tongue elevation and control

• Proper resting posture

• Efficient swallowing patterns

• Improved breathing coordination

At Mequon Speech and Learning Connection, this work is led by clinicians with specialized training in oral motor rehabilitation. The team includes Milwaukee’s first Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM), providing advanced expertise for complex oral motor conditions.

Families seeking specialized assessments can learn more about Tongue Tie evaluations and how therapy supports long-term functional outcomes.

Don’t Fragment Your Child’s Care

When parents search for treatment, they often see multiple specialists addressing different symptoms:

• An orthodontist for teeth

• A dentist for oral habits

• A therapist for speech

While each provider plays an important role, fragmented care can lead to confusion and delayed progress.

Oral muscle function connects breathing, feeding, speech, and sleep. When these systems are evaluated together, treatment becomes clearer and more effective.

You wouldn’t hire a plumber to fix electrical wiring. In the same way, muscle and swallowing function require the expertise of a professional trained specifically in those systems.

Schedule a Comprehensive Evaluation

If you suspect oral motor dysfunction, tongue thrust, or airway-related habits, the best place to begin is with a comprehensive evaluation that looks at the full picture.

At Mequon Speech and Learning Connection, assessments consider:

• Breathing patterns

• Tongue posture

• Swallowing function

• Speech clarity

• Feeding development

• Sleep-related concerns

Instead of chasing symptoms separately, families receive a unified plan for care.

Contact us to schedule a comprehensive functional evaluation and learn how a coordinated approach can support speech, swallowing, airway health, and long-term development.