Speech 4 Fun-Myofunctional and Speech Therapy

09/28/2025

At her talk today, Dr Yoon made sure that there should be no confusion- most children with tonsil and adenoid enlargement and skeletal deficiency need both treated. Her paper is being misquoted and misapplied to give false hope to parents about avoiding surgery.

09/28/2025

For too long, adults with sleep apnoea have been told: “Here’s your CPAP. Use it for life.”

But let’s be clear: CPAP is effective, yet it’s not the only solution.

Here are other evidence-based paths that deserve attention:
🔹 Surgery – to remove or reduce physical blockages.
🔹 Orthodontics – expanding a narrow jaw or correcting bite issues that collapse the airway.
🔹 Myofunctional therapy – retraining the tongue and muscles to keep the airway open.
🔹 Weight loss – reducing fat around the airway and abdomen that worsens obstruction.
🔹 Positional therapy – preventing the airway from collapsing when sleeping on your back.

💡 Sleep apnoea is not “one size fits all.” The right treatment depends on the individual, their anatomy, and their overall health.

If you’ve been told CPAP is the only way, it’s time to question the status quo. Patients deserve a menu of options—not a lifetime sentence.

09/27/2025

👃 A high, narrow palate = a smaller nasal cavity.
This means less space for airflow — and more chance of mouth breathing, snoring, and poor sleep.

🦷 Orthodontic expansion doesn’t just straighten teeth.
It can literally give children room to breathe.

✨ The result? Better oxygen, better sleep, better behaviour, better health.

Parents: if your child struggles with crowded teeth and breathing issues, don’t just think orthodontics. Think airway.

06/01/2025

A new review of why Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may be needed after tonsils and adenoids in children who continue to mouth breathe post op.

Has your child had their adenoids and tonsils removed — but is still mouth breathing, or snoring again months later?

You’re not imagining it. And you’re not alone.

A new review highlights why some children continue to struggle, even after surgery.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) uses simple, non-invasive exercises to retrain the tongue, lips, and throat muscles to support nasal breathing, better sleep, and healthy facial development.

Here’s what it can help with:

✅ Tongue resting against the palate
✅ Lips staying closed at rest
✅ Throat muscles staying active at night
✅ Nasal breathing and jaw growth

There’s real research that connects the dots.

This is one of the most detailed reviews to date on children with enlarged adenoids and tonsils, especially those with ongoing symptoms after surgery.

If this sounds like your child, this may be a missing piece.

Here's the research link:
https://www.tmrjournals.com/public/articlePDF/20250426/IN2024B1225001.pdf

05/01/2025

I will miss this young lady in therapy . Thank you Dr. Chang for the referral of this beautiful sweet girl. Graduated from Myofunctional therapy in 10 sessions! She rocks !

05/01/2025

04/11/2025

The roof of the mouth, known as the palate, is directly connected to the nasal passages. When the palate is narrow, it can restrict airflow and create several issues. Here’s how it can impact breathing and health:

1. **Airflow Restriction**: A narrow palate can lead to a smaller nasal cavity, which makes it harder for air to flow freely in and out through the nose. This can result in nasal congestion and difficulty nasal breathing.

2. **Mouth Breathing**: If airflow through the nose is obstructed due to a narrow palate, children may resort to mouth breathing. This can lead to dry mouth, dental problems, and even affect speech development.

3. **Sleep Quality**: Poor airflow can also impact sleep. Children with a narrow palate may be more prone to sleep apnea or restless sleep, leading to fatigue and difficulties in concentration during the day.

4. **Facial Development**: Over time, a narrow palate can contribute to changes in facial structure, potentially leading to issues like malocclusion (misalignment of teeth) and other orthodontic concerns.

5. **Overall Health**: Since effective nasal breathing plays a crucial role in filtering, humidifying, and warming the air we breathe, any obstruction can affect overall respiratory health and well-being.

➡️ narrow palate -> low tongue posture

➡️ low tongue posture ->mouth breathing during critical growth periods -> maldevelopment of the jaw -> increase in the mandible plane angle (longer face), a higher palatal plane (affects upper airways), and narrowing of both upper and lower arches->malocclusion ->sleep disordered breathing

There are several influences which can affect facial growth and development.

One of the most common one in children is caused by a compromised airway - The inability to breathe properly through the nose.

Join Dr. Zaghi at our upcoming Breathe course on airway, sleep, breathing, health, growth & development in July! Register now www.breathecourses.com

03/31/2025

This smarty pants graduated therapy today. He would beat me at the genius games every single week. I sure will miss him !

03/31/2025

Angie and I had a great weekend of learning at The MyoSphere. They knocked it out of the park again. We learned so much we can take back and share with our patients and parents.

12/16/2024

What a beautiful wreath from Dr. Sanovich, DDS, MD . Thank you!

12/16/2024

Thank you Dr. McBride McBride Orthodontics for the tasty Christmas treat!