According to the definition by the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), an OMD includes one or more of the following:
"abnormal labial-lingual rest posture, bruxism (teeth grinding), poor nasal breathing, tongue protrusion while swallowing, poor mastication and bolus management, atypical oral placement for speech, lip incompetency and/or digit habits and sucking habits (such as nail biting). These conditions can co-occur with speech misarticulations. In these instances, the articulation disorder is not developmental or phonological in nature, but rather a result of poor oral placement and inappropriate muscle development. OMD may reflect the interplay of functional behaviors, physical/structural variables, genetic, and environmental factors. "(Billings et al., 2018, p. 1
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are often related to or can contribute to a variety of medical and dental disorders. These disorders can include but are not limited to:
- -- Airway Obstruction (ex . enlarged adenoids, or deviated septum)
- -- Changes associated with abnormal jaw growth and position
- -- Cleft Palate
- -- Down syndrome
- -- Dysphagia
- -- Malocclusion (improper alignment of the teeth)
- -- Periodontal disorders
- -- Orthodontic relapse
- -- Sleep Apnea/Sleep-Disordered Breathing
- -- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
- -- Tethered Oral Tissues (buccal, lip pr tongue tie)