Tongue Thrust &
Orofacial Myology
for children and adults
Our Specialties
Tongue thrust can affect both children and adults. Each time these individuals swallow, they push their tongues against or between their teeth. During a normal swallow, the tongue pushes upward against the palate. Unhealthy oral habits, like tongue thrust, put these individuals at risk for persistent speech disorders and/or orthodontic relapse as well as serious health problems such as chronic allergies and asthma, chronic jaw/neck pain, migraines and sleep apnea.
Tongue thrust and orofacial challenges can look different depending upon the individual. To see testimonials and stories from those who overcame tongue thrust, visit our media page.
Learn More
Click on the links below to learn how these issues relate to learning and academic success:
Body Posture
How do Body Posture Problems Relate to Tongue Thrust?
The muscles of the tongue connect to the cervical spine. If the connective tissues of the tongue are not working properly, it can cause a forward head posture and/or slouching.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Body Posture Problems?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the causes of forward head posture and slouching and then work with the team to correct it. We will help you eliminate the triggers that are exacerbating posture problems and then develop a treatment plan to develop healthy tongue swallowing patterns and resting postures as well as reverse the forward head position and slouching.
Drooling
What Drooling is Normal and What is Not?
Most infants and toddlers go through periods of drooling. Most often drooling is related to teething, so it should ebb and flow, peaking as the primary teeth erupt and then disappearing completely by the age of three.
Children whose drooling doesn’t resolve by age 3 are warning us of a potential problem. Clearly, a drooling child’s lips are frequently open, which is a sign that the lip muscles are weak.
What is the Optimal Treatment Plan for Drooling?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the causes of excessive drooling and then work with the team to correct it. We will help you eliminate the triggers that are exacerbating the drooling and then develop a treatment plan to strengthen and coordinate the facial muscles until the lips stay closed and the drooling is controlled.
Forward Tongue Posture
What is Forward Tongue Posture?
This is a symptom of tongue thrust. It means the tongue is resting too far forward in the mouth. Many times, the tongue position is also too low. This low, forward “lazy” tongue posture often causes problems with dental alignment and speech production.
If the mouth is frequently open, many complications may occur: the jaw may not line up properly and then develop into an unhealthy bite (malocclusion). Open-mouth breathing can also lead to postural abnormalities, sleep apnea and ongoing respiratory-related illnesses.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Forward Tongue Posture?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the causes of the forward tongue posture and then work with the team to correct it. We will help you eliminate the triggers that are causing the tongue to rest in a low, forward position and then develop a treatment plan to strengthen and coordinate the muscles, so the tongue can remain suctioned up onto the palate where it belongs.
Lisping
What is a Lisp?
A lisp is a speech production problem that usually affects the ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds. It can also affect the sounds ‘ch’, ‘j’ and ‘sh’. The lisping sound is caused by abnormal tongue placement—either forward between the front teeth or sideways between the molars.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Lisping?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the factors causing the lisp and then work with the team to eliminate them. After eliminating the triggers that are causing the speech production problems, our team will develop a treatment plan to develop healthy tongue swallowing patterns and resting postures and eliminate the lisp.
Low Muscle Tone
What is Low Muscle Tone?
Low muscle tone refers to muscle weakness. Low muscle tone in the facial muscles will interfere with eating and speech production. Strong jaw muscles are needed for all skills related to chewing and speech. In addition, people need strong lip muscles to produce sounds like ‘b’ and ‘p’. They need strong tongue-tip muscles to make the ‘t’ and ‘d’ sounds and strong tongue-back muscles to make the sounds ‘k’ and ‘g’. And all the muscles of the tongue are involved in mature chewing and swallowing patterns as well as producing complex sounds like ‘l’, ‘r’ and ‘th’.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Low Muscle Tone?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the causes of low muscle tone and then work with the team to correct it. We will help you eliminate the triggers that prevent the facial muscles from developing properly and then develop a treatment plan to strengthen and coordinate the facial muscles until healthy breathing, chewing and swallowing are intact, and speech patterns are clear and coordinated.
Open-Mouth Breathing
What makes Open-Mouth Breathing a Problem?
Open-mouth breathing is often a sign that something is seriously wrong. The human body is designed to breathe through the nose. Open-mouth breathing is caused by allergies, asthma or airborne illnesses that block the nasal passages. It can also be caused by physical abnormalities such as deviated septums. Other causes of open-mouth breathing are enlarged tonsils that push tongues forward and restrict airways as well as shortened frenums and dental malocclusions that prevent comfortable lip closure.
If the mouth is frequently open, many complications may occur: the jaw may not line up properly and then develop into an unhealthy bite (malocclusion). Open-mouth breathing can also lead to postural abnormalities, sleep apnea and ongoing respiratory-related illnesses.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Open-Mouth Breathing?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the causes of open-mouth breathing and then work with the team to correct it. Sometimes there is nasal congestion that must be addressed. Sometimes the problem is weak lip muscles. We will help you eliminate the triggers that are causing the open-mouth breathing and then develop a treatment plan to get the lip muscles strong and coordinated, so they can remain closed during the day and at night as well.
Sleep Disordered Breathing
How do Sleep Disorders Relate to Tongue Thrust?
Some sleep disorders are caused by airway blockage—either through the nose or the mouth, and sometimes, both of them. If the nasal airway is blocked, individuals are forced to breathe through their open mouths. If the oral (mouth) airway is also blocked, individuals snore or even gasp for breath. A weak tongue or an abnormal tongue resting posture is often causing the blockage.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Sleep Disordered Breathing?
It is critical to start with a sleep test. Our speech-language pathologist/orofacial myologists will help identify the warning signs that indicate sleep disordered breathing and then put together a team. If a tongue thrust is one of the culprits, we will help you develop a treatment plan to develop healthy swallowing patterns and tongue resting postures, and open up the oral airway for better sleep.
Speech Production
Speech production pertains to the way individuals pronounce sounds. When speech is not clear, listeners tend to focus on HOW people are talking rather than WHAT they are saying. Speech distortions call attention to themselves and distract listeners; they can even prevent listeners from understanding the message.
What is a Speech Distortion?
The most common speech distortions pertain to the “r” and “l” sounds as well as the sounds “s” and “z”. These distortions are usually caused by tongue weakness related to where the tongue is positioned in the mouth.
There are 21 different types of “r” in the English Language. Having an “r” distortion can make it very difficult for listeners to understand the message.
There are also a wide variety of “l”, “s” and “z” sounds in the English Language. In addition to all the “s” and “z” sounds used in root words, there are the “s” and “z” sounds used in plurals, possessives and verbs.
Having a distortion with any of these sound groups will interfere with communication. And distorting all groups of sounds will interfere with the listener’s understanding of almost every word.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Speech Distortions?
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation to identify the cause of the speech disorder. Then the speech pathologists at Therapies for Success will assign exercises to strengthen the speech muscles and correctly produce the new sounds in controlled environments. Gradually the new sounds will be produced clearly in phrases, sentences and, ultimately, in conversational speech.
How does a Speech Disorder/Delay Relate to Tongue Thrust?
A tongue thrust or low, forward tongue resting posture shows muscle weakness. The tongue is resting in a lazy position rather than a healthy strong posture suctioned up onto the palate. The tongue is pushing forward during swallowing instead of doing the upward and backward movement that shows a normal swallow. Weak tongue muscles are often incapable of producing the speech sounds, especially the more complex sounds like ‘s’, ‘z’, ‘l’, ‘r’ and ‘th’.
Speech Production
Speech production pertains to the way individuals pronounce sounds. When speech is not clear, listeners tend to focus on HOW people are talking rather than WHAT they are saying. Speech distortions call attention to themselves and distract listeners; they can even prevent listeners from understanding the message.
What is a Speech Distortion?
The most common speech distortions pertain to the “r” and “l” sounds as well as the sounds “s” and “z”. These distortions are usually caused by tongue weakness related to where the tongue is positioned in the mouth.
There are 21 different types of “r” in the English Language. Having an “r” distortion can make it very difficult for listeners to understand the message.
There are also a wide variety of “l”, “s” and “z” sounds in the English Language. In addition to all the “s” and “z” sounds used in root words, there are the “s” and “z” sounds used in plurals, possessives and verbs.
Having a distortion with any of these sound groups will interfere with communication. And distorting both groups of sounds will interfere with the listener’s understanding of almost every word.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Speech Distortions?
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation to identify the cause of the speech disorder. Then the speech pathologists at Therapies for Success will assign exercises to strengthen the speech muscles and correctly produce the new sounds in controlled environments. Gradually the new sounds will be produced clearly in phrases, sentences and, ultimately, in conversational speech.
How does a Speech Disorder/Delay Relate to Tongue Thrust?
A tongue thrust or low, forward tongue resting posture shows muscle weakness. The tongue is resting in a lazy position rather than a healthy strong posture suctioned up onto the palate. The tongue is pushing forward during swallowing instead of doing the upward and backward movement that shows a normal swallow. Weak tongue muscles are often incapable of producing the speech sounds, especially the more complex sounds like ‘s’, ‘z’, ‘l’, ‘r’ and ‘th’.
Thumb/Finger Sucking
What Damage is Caused by Thumb (Finger) Sucking?
Dental Problems
Just like orthodontic appliances can reposition teeth, pressure applied by a finger or thumb can change the position of the teeth too. The most common types of bite problems associated with sucking are open bites, overjets, and crossbites.
Speech and Swallowing Problems
When the tongue pushes against or between the teeth rather than upward against the palate, a tongue thrust swallow occurs. Tongue thrust swallows are frequently related to “s” and “z” distortions or “lisps” and deviant productions of many other sounds as well.
Emotional Problems
Children who suck their fingers are often perceived by others to be emotionally insecure and immature. This can lead to a social stigma, a poor self-image and possible problems with peer interaction.
Physical Problems
Side effects such as calluses, infections, and viruses are frequently caused by contaminated fingers in the mouth.
What is the Optimal Treatment for Thumb Sucking?
Four to six-year-old children who have a desire to overcome their sucking habits are ideal candidates for treatment. By eliminating sucking early, associated problems can be minimized and sometimes reversed.
Our speech-language pathologists at Therapies for Success are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the triggers for the finger sucking and then work with the team to eliminate this unhealthy habit.
Tongue Thrust
What is a Tongue Thrust Swallow?
Tongue thrust is a swallowing disorder that affects many children and adults. Each time these individuals swallow, they push their tongues against or between their teeth. During a normal swallow, the tongue pushes upward against the palate.
Tongue thrust swallows are intrinsically linked to unhealthy oral resting positions. These individuals often breathe with their lips apart and/or rest their tongues in a low/forward posture against or between their teeth. These unhealthy habits put these individuals at risk for persistent speech disorders and orthodontic relapse as well as serious health problems such a chronic jaw/neck pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, migraines and even sleep apnea.
What Damage is Caused by a Tongue Thrust?
Individuals with a tongue thrust will often:
- Reverse their orthodontic results
- Reposition their teeth
- Pronounce words incorrectly
- Be messy eaters
- Have chronic neck and jaw pain
- Have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems
What is the Optimal Treatment for a Tongue Thrust Swallow?
Our speech-language pathologists are trained to be orofacial myologists. They have the expertise to identify the causes of the tongue thrust and then work with the team to correct it. We will help you eliminate the triggers that are causing the tongue thrust swallow and then develop a treatment plan to strengthen and coordinate the muscles until healthy swallowing becomes habitual and natural.
Testimonials
Our daughter had speech, language and swallowing problems caused by chronic ear infections. Jodie employed well-defined systematic programs for each our daughter’s speech, language and swallowing problems and corrected our daughter’s lisp.”
~ Alison and John Lane, parents of Katherine
Yelp Reviews
I was drawn to Jodie’s practice after researching, because she is both a speech pathologist and an orofacial myologist. This a rare combo and exactly what I needed. She has been incredible. Jodie means business. She expects you – as she should – to work hard and be disciplined to make sure you get the results you desire. We have seen great results – my teeth have shifted back and I now don’t have my mouth hanging open all day! It’s helped my TMJ as well as my digestive system since I now know how to properly chew and swallow food and water. It’s been a great experience, and I would highly recommend Jodie to anyone.”
~ J.V., Client
