Oral-Motor and Tongue-Tie
Therapy Services
The goal of oral motor and myofunctional therapy is to help improve the strength, function, and coordination of the muscles that are used for speech, chewing, swallowing, and breathing. I provide assessments to assess the tissue of the tongue, lips, and cheeks to determine if there could be an orofacial myological disorder or a possible tethered oral tissue (Ex. A tongue-tie, lip-ties, or buccal-ties impacting oral function, feeding, or breastfeeding/bottle-feeding skills). I assess if your baby or child can stick their tongue out, lateralize right/left, elevate the tip/mid/back portion of the tongue, suck-swallow with coordination, exhibit full cheek range of motion, lip range of motion, and proper movement of the jaw. I will assess the orofacial tension, strength, and coordination that is needed for feeding, breathing, and proper facial/palatal development.
I am passionate about providing rehabilitation for infants orofacial muscles pre and post frenectomy treatment. I provide and teach parents how to do the oral motor therapy and bodywork that should be provided post frenectomy to increase the range of motion, strength, and coordination of the tongue, lips, jaw, and cheeks. I work with parents to make sure that they are stretching the wound properly to prevent re-attachment and to increase the outcomes of the tongue-tie surgical release. Oral motor therapy, suck-training when appropriate, and consistant aftercare is a critical part of your infant or toddler's healing journey. My goal is to prepare your little one for surgery and to support you after the surgery each step of the way! I provide in-home therapy for Pierce county, Kitsap county, Mason county and in-office therapy in Port Orchard, Wa. I will support families in California with teletherapy.
Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy and speech therapy are crucial components in improving your child's oral motor skills and pre-feeding skills, both of which are essential for healthy feeding development. As a professional, I highly recommend incorporating a sensory approach in your child's feeding therapy sessions. This approach not only helps your child become familiar with different textures and tastes, but it also aids in teaching proper rotary chewing and orofacial muscle movements. These skills are vital for your infant's oral motor development, which ultimately leads to successful feeding experiences. With the right guidance and therapy, your child can develop the necessary pre-feeding skills and achieve optimal feeding development. So, if you want to ensure your child's overall well-being, consider including feeding therapy and speech therapy in their routine. Help your child build a strong foundation for future feeding skills and a healthy life.
Babies who may have a tethered oral tissue/s (TOTs) including tongue, lip, or buccal ties:
- *Decreased wakefulness or restless sleep
- *Sticking tongue out at rest or low resting tongue posture
- *Open mouth breathing or snoring
- *Not feeding efficiently or coming on/off of the breast during a feed
- *Chomping at the nipple with a shallow latch or not keeping the bottle in the mouth
- *Chewing at the breast or baby pulling the nipple
- *A high palate or snorting sounds
- *Can not hold a pacifier in the mouth
- *Increased gag and/or spitting up
- *Weight gain concerns
- *Baby tucking the upper lip in when feeding versus flaring the upper lip
- *Increased gas/constipation or digestive issues
- *Jaw shakes when feeding from fatigue
- *Clicking sound when feeding at the breast or bottle (Baby is losing suction of the tongue reaching the upper palate or roof of the mouth during a feed because it could be tied down)
- *Lip blisters from baby using lips as a compensation
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy/Oral Habit Elimination Program:
I provide oral habit elimination programs through Neo-Health Services and with the Thumbs Up! program, an intensive oral habit elimination program. As a parent, you want what's best for your child's health and future. That's why I am here to help you tackle the negative effects of prolonged use of pacifiers and other oral habits that negatively impacts your child's proper mouth development.
Studies have shown that these seemingly harmless habits can lead to a range of long-term oral health issues, including recession of the lower jaw, facial elongation, a high-narrow palate, misaligned teeth, and an open-mouth posture/mouth breathing.
But don't worry, this program is designed to address these problems head on. By eliminating thumb sucking and other negative habits, we not only promote proper palatal development for a healthy airway, but also proper facial development for correct dental health.
Early intervention is key in ensuring your child's optimal oral health! That's why Thumbs Up! offers a comprehensive and effective solution to eliminate these habits and prevent any potential damage they may cause.
My goal is to provide your child with the proper tools and techniques to break these oral habits. Don't let thumb-sucking or other oral habits hinder your child's future orthodontic treatment or speech. Sign up for the Thumbs Up!-Oral Habit Elimination Program today!
Pre/Post Frenectomy Procedure Package
This package includes both demonstration and implementation of tongue-tie or tethered oral tissue (TOT) stretches, performed both before and after a revision procedure.
The stretches performed before surgery, which address range of motion, strength, and coordination of the tongue, are an integral (but often overlooked) factor within the overall healing process. These pre-surgical stretches help prepare the tissue and child for the revision procedure. During the assessment of the oral tissue, I will determine the severity of the decreased range of motion, the strength or tone of the musculature, and if the tongue is coordinated. It is critical that the coordination of the tongue is established prior to the frenectomy, and many providers or dentists will not do the remediation of the tethered tissue until coordination is established. Post-surgical stretches are critically important and need to be monitored. If parents do not perform the stretches properly, the child could be at risk for tissue re-attachement, improper healing, and/or severe scar tissue may form. Carefully following my prescribed stretching regimen is important, because even with a successful surgery, a re-lapse could occur if the tongue/muscles are not stretched properly.
I will patiently walk you through both the pre- and post- surgical stretches. Typically, we will meet before and shortly after surgery to do the stretches. In about a week following the procedure, we will meet in order to determine whether the TOT was revised properly and to assess for tissue re-attachment or scar tissue. I will assess for proper tongue movement during breathing, speaking, swallowing, feeding (breast or bottle as applicable), and chewing/drinking. If further treatment is needed for speech therapy, I can provide after-care by adding treatment sessions for speech therapy or a myofunctional disorder package may be needed.
(See the Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Packages above for available therapy options specific to the re-training the function of the tongue, lips, and other speech structures).
*For infants:
It is important to assess the suck-swallow pattern in infants because a coordinated swallow leads to more efficient feedings. My goal is to help babies with their suck-swallowing pattern, lingual range of motion, and the coordination of their tongue. I want to encourage proper tongue protrusion/elevation/lateralization, and cupping on the tongue which are all important factors needed for proper breast or bottle feeding. Additionally, babies who have improper feeding techniques may swallow excess air and may have a hard time elevating their tongue to the hard palate (roof of the mouth). When a baby is able to lift the tongue to the roof of the mouth, the tongue presses against the hard palate and triggers the vagus nerve, which has a calming effect on the baby. Following a frenectomy procedure, the baby has to re-learn a new pattern of swallowing/tongue movements after the tissue has been released. The stretches are vital for healing because they prevent scar tissue and the diamond-shaped surgical wound from closing too soon. After the wound properly heals, the baby will learn proper tongue function which will positively impact their facial development, jaw development, oral musculature strength, feeding, and breathing as they learn to become obligate nose-breathers. Individualized treatment is recommended for your specific case. I love helping parents and babies on their journeys to nurse or feed properly, because feeding is one of the many ways a baby bonds with their parents!
*For children (2 years +):
For virtual clients, I will either mail you (or you can order) a kit which includes the necessary measurement tools/treatment tools. If you are one of my in-person Western Washington clients, you may purchase a kit directly from me. I will teach you, as the parent(s), how to perform the tongue-tie, labial-tie, and buccal-tie stretches pre/post frenectomy or revision surgery. Support and proper education/treatment is vital for your child's proper healing. Therapy follow-up is essential and can greatly help ensure that the wound(s) close properly with no re-attachment or scar tissue.
.jpeg "infant baby speech therapist myofunctional speech therapist wa ca")