Orofacial Myofunctional Treatment for Individuals with Autism

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat. It aims to address abnormal patterns of muscle function and movement, particularly those that can affect speech, swallowing, and overall oral health.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder often have sensory processing difficulties. Sensory processing refers to the way our nervous system receives sensory messages and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. It involves the way we perceive and respond to sensory stimuli from our environment.

Given these sensitivities, more care needs to be done for the sensory system when providing OMT. Since OMT involves a lot of sensory motor work, we must address oral desensitization in the mouth. This process can progress slowly, so therapy can take longer, but still be successful.

In young children, we may use social stories, music and play. If a child on the spectrum is tongue tied, tongue tie release surgery can still be done, but requires more pre-op work and, more than likely, using a release provider that will do so under anesthesia and with stitches.

A multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration between speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals, may be beneficial in addressing the complex oral motor challenges associated with autism. Additionally, therapy should be tailored to the unique strengths and preferences of each individual to optimize outcomes.