What causes OMD ?

The following may cause OMD:

  • Allergies
  • Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
  • Excessive thumb or finger sucking, lip and fingernail biting, lip picking, and teeth clenching and grinding
  • Family heredity

How is OMD diagnosed ?

OMD is often diagnosed by a team of professionals. In addition to the child and his or her family or caregivers, the team may include:

  • A dentist
  • An orthodontist
  • A physician
  • A speech-language pathologist (SLP)

Both dentists and orthodontists may be involved when constant, continued tongue pressure against the teeth interferes with normal tooth eruption and alignment of the teeth and jaws. Physicians rule out the presence of a blocked airway (e.g., from enlarged tonsils or adenoids or from allergies) that may cause forward tongue posture. SLPs assess and treat the effects of OMD on speech, rest postures, and swallowing.

What we can do ….

Therapies for Kids does not currently have a Speech Pathologist who is qualified to treat this condition.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) with experience and training in the treatment of OMD will evaluate and treat the following:

  • Open-mouth posture
  • Speech sound errors
  • Swallowing disorders
  • Develop a treatment plan to help your child change their oral posture and articulation

If tongue movement during swallowing is a problem, the SLP will address this as well.

Treatment techniques to help both speech and swallowing problems caused by OMD may include the following:

  • I
increasing awareness of mouth and facial muscles
  • 
Increasing awareness of mouth and tongue postures
  • Improving muscle strength and coordination
  • 
Improving speech sound productions
  • Improving swallowing patterns
  • Develop a treatment plan to help your child change their oral posture and articulation