Myofunctional Therapist vs. Speech Therapist: What’s the Difference?
Children may face problems in speaking clearly, while adults may have problems with mouth breathing, swallowing, and tongue thrust. In all these cases, you have to decide whom to consult, a myofunctional therapist or a speech therapist. Both therapists have to work with facial and oral muscles, but their roles and treatment styles differ. In this blog, we will discuss the difference between the two therapists.
What is a Myofunctional Therapist?
A myofunctional therapist treats disorders related to the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue. They correct improper oral habits and muscle patterns that are the reasons that affect chewing, swallowing, speech, and facial development. Orofacial myofunctional therapy is an exercise-based program that these therapists use to retrain the oral and facial muscles.
Which Conditions Are Treated by a Myofunctional Therapist?
Tongue thrust
Mouth breathing
Improper swallowing patterns
Low tongue posture
Thumb sucking (in children)
Teeth clenching and grinding
Snoring and mild sleep-disordered breathing
Orthodontic relapse
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is performed to establish proper tongue resting procedure on the roof of the mouth, nasal breathing, and correct swallowing patterns.
What is a Speech Therapist?
A speech therapist is a licensed healthcare professional whose job is to treat communication and swallowing disorders. The therapist treats speech, language, fluency, voice, feeding, and swallowing disorders.
Which Conditions Are Treated by a Speech Therapist?
These conditions include the following:
Articulation disorders (e.g., difficulty pronouncing certain sounds)
Language delays
Stuttering
Voice disorders
Autism-related communication challenges
Cognitive-communication disorders
Feeding and swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
Speech therapists can be found in schools, hospitals, private clinics, and rehabilitation centers.
What are the Differences Between a Myofunctional Therapist and a Speech Therapist?
There are a few differences between a myofunctional therapist and a speech therapist, and they are given below.
Condition
Myofunctional Therapist
Speech Therapist
Primary Focus
A myofunctional therapist corrects muscle function and oral habits.
A speech therapist improves speech production and communication.
Treatment
They use muscle retraining exercises to treat the conditions.
They use articulation drills, language-building activities, and voice therapy techniques for treatment
Underlying Goals
Myofunctional therapy is performed to correct muscle dysfunction to improve breathing, dental health, and communication
Speech therapy is performed to improve clarity and communication.
How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Works
Orofacial myofunctional therapy includes different types of exercises for lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw. You will have to perform these exercises for the following:
Promote nasal breathing
Establish correct tongue resting posture
Improve lip seal
Normalize swallowing patterns
Strengthen weak oral muscles
This therapy requires regular weekly sessions and daily home sessions. The exercises should be performed consistently to see the results.
In speech therapy, the therapist teaches how to produce sounds correctly. Orofacial myofunctional therapy improves the muscular foundation to support speech and oral function.
When a Myofunctional Therapist is Required
Here are the reasons that you should go to a myofunctional therapist:
Chronic mouth breathing
Tongue thrust during swallowing
Snoring or mild sleep apnea symptoms
Orthodontic issues that keep recurring
Difficulty keeping lips closed at rest
Jaw pain related to improper muscle function
Children having the habit of thumb sucking or delayed oral development also need a myofunctional therapist.
When a Speech Therapist is Required
A speech therapist is required for the following reasons:
Delayed speech milestones in children
Trouble pronouncing specific sounds
Difficulty forming sentences
Stuttering
Voice strain or hoarseness
Communication challenges following a stroke or brain injury
What are the Education and Training Differences Between Myofunctional Therapists and Speech Therapists
Speech therapists need a master’s degree in speech-language pathology and must obtain a license. They also have to obtain a certificate from professional boards, whether regional or national.
A myofunctional therapist belongs to different healthcare backgrounds. These backgrounds include dental hygiene, speech-language pathology, and other healthcare fields. They also have to go for specialized training in orofacial myofunctional therapy.
How Speech Therapy and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Help
One major difference between the two therapies is how each of them influences overall health. Orofacial myofunctional therapy can help in the following.
Breathing patterns
Sleep quality
Facial development
Dental alignment
Jaw health
Speech therapy helps in the following:
Communication ability
Academic performance
Social interactions
Confidence and self-esteem
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between a myofunctional therapist and a speech therapist is essential when seeking help for oral or communication concerns. While both professionals work within the oral and facial system, their treatment goals and approaches differ significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a myofunctional therapist do?
A myofunctional therapist evaluates and treats improper muscle function of the face and mouth using orofacial myofunctional therapy. They focus on breathing, swallowing, and tongue posture.
2. Is a myofunctional therapist the same as a speech therapist?
No. While both may work with oral muscles, a speech therapist focuses on communication disorders, while a myofunctional therapist specializes in muscle function and oral habits.
3. Can orofacial myofunctional therapy improve speech?
Yes, in some cases. If speech issues are caused by improper tongue posture or muscle dysfunction, correcting those patterns through orofacial myofunctional therapy can support clearer speech.
4. Does my child need both therapies?
Possibly. If your child has articulation errors and tongue thrust, working with both a speech therapist and a myofunctional therapist can provide comprehensive treatment.
5. How long does orofacial myofunctional therapy take?
Treatment typically lasts several months, depending on the severity of the condition and consistency with home exercises.
