Oral Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) for Kids: Better Speaking, Breathing, and Eating

Speech therapy as a profession is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, and it’s remarkable to reflect on how far the field has come. Families today have a deeper understanding than ever of how early support can positively shape communication, feeding, and overall development.

Parents naturally want their children to succeed in speaking, from clear pronunciation to confident communication. What many don’t realize is that speech-language pathologists are now trained to provide more in-depth support that goes beyond speech alone. We can address the way the tongue, lips, and jaw move and rest together. This is where Oral Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) comes in.

OMT helps improve how the muscles of the mouth and face function, which can lead to clearer speech, more efficient swallowing, and healthier breathing habits.

What Is OMT?

OMT, or Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, focuses on training the muscles of the face and mouth to move and rest in optimal positions. This kind of therapy can make it easier for your child to:

• Speak clearly
• Breathe through the nose instead of the mouth
• Swallow food properly and safely
• Develop habits that support healthy dental and jaw development

At Speakable, our trained speech therapist uses simple, targeted exercises to strengthen these muscles and help children build consistent, functional habits. Because the oral and facial muscles are involved in so many everyday actions such as speaking, chewing, swallowing, and even sleeping, improving their function can have wide-ranging benefits.

Who Can Benefit From OMT?

A wide range of children (and adults) can benefit. OMT may be especially helpful if your child:

• Has trouble producing certain sounds. A lisp or difficulty with sounds like s or z is often related to tongue posture.
• Breathes through their mouth. Chronic mouth breathing can influence facial development, dental alignment, and sleep quality.
• Pushes their tongue forward while swallowing. This “tongue thrust” pattern can contribute to dental issues or difficulty eating certain foods.
• Has a history of prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use. These habits can affect how the oral structures develop.
• Struggles to transition to solid foods. Chewing or swallowing challenges may indicate that oral-motor coordination needs support.

Because these concerns touch on multiple body systems (speech, feeding, dental development, breathing) OMT often plays an important role in a child’s broader developmental picture.

What Happens in Therapy Sessions?

OMT sessions are designed to be fun and engaging while building strength and coordination. Children are introduced to simple activities such as:

• Practicing correct tongue placement through playful, guided activities
• Strengthening lip and cheek muscles using silly faces and interactive exercises
• Learning new swallowing patterns through step-by-step games and modelling

These exercises are tailored to your child’s needs and can often be practiced at home, allowing progress to continue between sessions. Turning therapeutic practice into play makes it easier for children to stay motivated and consistent.

Why Does This Matter?

Healthy function of the mouth and facial muscles supports far more than speech alone. When these muscles work as they’re meant to, children often experience:

• Greater speech clarity
• Healthier breathing patterns and improved sleep
• Stronger chewing and swallowing skills
• Better alignment and development of the jaw and teeth

After a century of evolution, the field of speech-language pathology continues to expand through new research, improved technology, and a deeper understanding of how breathing, feeding, and communication all connect. Oral Myofunctional Therapy is one of the approaches that allows us to support children more holistically, helping them become confident, capable communicators who feel ready to navigate the world around them.

To learn more about Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), feel free to contact us.

About Speakable Speech & Language

Founded in 2013 by Tamara Paull, M.Sc., SLP(C), Speakable Speech & Language provides both in-person and virtual speech therapy to Canadian children between 18 months and 18 years of age. Our team is composed of clinicians in good standing with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) or l’Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec (OOAQ). Our staff are dedicated to delivering sessions that are engaging, educational, therapeutic, and fun. Sessions range from 30–45 minutes and are designed to meet each child’s unique needs while fostering confidence and communication skills.