Myofunctional Therapy in Orange County

Specialized care for children and adults addressing oral function, tongue posture, swallowing, speech, and orofacial movement.

Myofunctional therapy focuses on how the muscles of the mouth and face work together for functions such as resting posture, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech.

At The Speech Dr., Dr. Bri Langlas, EdD, CCC-SLP, combines expertise in speech-language pathology with specialized training in myofunctional therapy to provide individualized care across the lifespan—from children developing healthy oral patterns to adults experiencing complex speech, swallowing, and orofacial functional concerns.

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy focuses on how the muscles of the mouth and face work together for functions such as resting posture, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech.

At The Speech Dr., Dr. Bri Langlas, EdD, CCC-SLP, combines expertise in speech-language pathology with specialized training in myofunctional therapy to provide individualized care across the lifespan—from young children with developing oral patterns to adults with complex speech and swallowing needs.

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Orofacial myofunctional therapy addresses patterns involving the tongue, lips, jaw, and surrounding oral and facial structures.

Depending on the individual, therapy may address:

Tongue resting posture
Lip closure and oral resting posture
Tongue mobility and coordination
Chewing and swallowing patterns
Speech sound production
Oral awareness and motor control
Nasal breathing patterns when medically appropriate
Functional concerns associated with tongue restriction
Oral patterns related to orthodontic treatment
Carryover of new oral movement patterns into daily activities

Treatment is individualized based on each person's evaluation, medical history, developmental level, and functional needs.

Myofunctional Therapy for Children

Children may benefit from evaluation when concerns involve tongue posture, swallowing, speech, oral habits, feeding, breathing patterns, or dental and orthodontic development.

Common reasons families seek an evaluation include:

Tongue thrust
Open-mouth resting posture
Mouth breathing
Speech sound difficulties
Feeding or chewing concerns
Prolonged thumb, finger, or pacifier habits
Tongue-tie or other oral restrictions
Preparation for or rehabilitation following a frenectomy when indicated
Orthodontic concerns
Difficulty establishing appropriate oral resting patterns

Therapy is designed to be developmentally appropriate, and parent participation may be incorporated to support carryover at home.

Tongue Thrust Therapy

Tongue thrust involves a pattern in which the tongue may rest or move forward against or between the teeth during swallowing, speech, or at rest.

Because Dr. Bri is both a speech-language pathologist and myofunctional therapist, treatment can consider the relationship between tongue posture, swallowing, speech production, and oral function.

Learn more about Tongue Thrust Therapy in Orange County.

Myofunctional Therapy for Adults

Myofunctional disorders are not limited to children.

Adults may seek myofunctional therapy because of concerns involving tongue posture, swallowing, oral function, orthodontic treatment, speech, tongue restriction, or changes in oral motor function.

Adult services may address:

Tongue thrust
Oral resting posture
Swallowing patterns
Speech concerns
Tongue mobility
Pre- and post-frenectomy support when appropriate
Orthodontic-related oral function
Orofacial movement and coordination
Functional oral-motor concerns

Treatment recommendations depend on the underlying condition and the individual's specific functional needs.

Neurological & Special Populations

Some individuals have oral-motor, speech, feeding, or swallowing needs associated with neurological, developmental, or complex medical conditions.

Dr. Bri's background as a speech-language pathologist allows treatment to extend beyond traditional myofunctional concerns and consider the individual's broader communication and swallowing needs.

Services may be appropriate for individuals with conditions such as:

Stroke
Parkinson's disease
Down syndrome
Cerebral palsy
Apraxia
Developmental or intellectual disabilities
Autism spectrum disorder
Other neurological or developmental conditions affecting oral function

For these populations, myofunctional techniques may be incorporated into a broader speech-language or swallowing treatment plan when clinically appropriate.

Myofunctional therapy does not treat the underlying neurological or medical diagnosis itself. Treatment instead focuses on functional areas within the speech-language pathologist's scope of practice.

Dysphagia & Swallowing Therapy

Swallowing is a complex function involving coordination of the tongue, lips, jaw, throat, airway, and nervous system.

Individuals experiencing swallowing difficulties may benefit from evaluation by a speech-language pathologist.

Depending on evaluation findings, therapy may address areas such as:

Oral control of food or liquid
Chewing
Bolus preparation and movement
Tongue coordination
Oral residue
Swallowing efficiency
Oral-motor coordination
Strategies to support safer and more effective swallowing when appropriate

Some swallowing concerns require additional medical or instrumental assessment. When appropriate, The Speech Dr. collaborates with physicians and other healthcare professionals or refers for additional evaluation.

Post- Stroke Speech, Oral-Motor, & Swallowing Support

A stroke can affect communication, facial and oral movement, chewing, swallowing, and coordination.

Depending on the individual's needs and medical status, speech-language pathology services may address speech production, oral-motor function, swallowing, communication, and related functional goals.

Myofunctional principles may be incorporated when they are clinically appropriate as part of a broader rehabilitation program.

Parkinson's Speech & Swallowing Support

Parkinson's disease can affect speech, voice, swallowing, saliva management, facial movement, and oral-motor coordination.

A speech-language pathology evaluation can help identify which areas are affected and determine appropriate treatment goals.

When appropriate, principles involving oral awareness, coordination, swallowing, and orofacial function may complement evidence-based speech and swallowing intervention.

Tongue-Tie & Frenectomy Support

A tongue-tie, or restricted lingual frenulum, may affect function differently from person to person.

Not everyone with a tongue-tie requires a procedure.

When a release is being considered, evaluation may help identify functional concerns involving tongue mobility, speech, feeding, swallowing, or oral resting posture.

When appropriate, therapy can also support preparation before a procedure and functional rehabilitation afterward in collaboration with the releasing provider.

Myofunctional Therapy & Orthodontics

The tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw continually interact with the teeth and oral structures.

For some individuals, oral resting posture and swallowing patterns may be relevant during orthodontic treatment.

The Speech Dr. can collaborate with dentists and orthodontists when myofunctional concerns are identified as part of the patient's overall treatment plan.

A Collaborative Approach

Successful treatment sometimes requires more than one professional.

Depending on the individual's needs, The Speech Dr. may collaborate with:

Dentists
Orthodontists
Otolaryngologists (ENTs)
Physicians
Neurologists
Gastroenterologists
Occupational and physical therapists
Other rehabilitation and healthcare professionals

This collaborative approach allows therapy to remain focused on function while medical, structural, dental, and airway-related concerns are addressed by the appropriate professionals.

Why Choose The Speech Dr.?

Dr. Bri Langlas, EdD, CCC-SLP, brings together speech-language pathology and myofunctional therapy rather than treating these areas in isolation.

This allows evaluation and treatment to consider the relationship among speech, swallowing, tongue movement, oral posture, feeding, and overall orofacial function.

Services are available for both children and adults, including individuals with more complex developmental or neurological needs.

Not Sure Which Service You Need?

You don't need to determine whether your concern is a speech, swallowing, tongue-tie, tongue-thrust, or myofunctional issue before reaching out.

A consultation can help determine the most appropriate next step and whether an evaluation, therapy, referral, or collaborative approach may be appropriate.

Schedule a consultation with The Speech Dr.

Serving children and adults throughout Orange County, California, with telepractice services available when clinically appropriate and permitted.