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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Orofacial myofunctional disorders encompass a number of different conditions and behaviors involving inappropriate oral and/or orofacial movements and configurations. Potential consequences from such postures and patterns can include abnormal tongue positioning within the oral cavity, inadequacy of lip closure, irregular chewing and swallowing performance, abnormal facial tension, dental malocclusion, and issues with speech production. This entry provides an overview of the possible causes, presentation, structural involvement, effects on speech, and multidisciplinary treatment of orofacial myofunctional disorders.

Possible Causes

Orofacial myofunctional disorders may be caused by a single factor or a combination of factors, which may be congenital, developmental, or behavioral in nature. Factors may include a restricted nasal passageway (such as that caused by allergies or enlarged tonsils or adenoids) resulting in open-mouth breathing, atypical sucking or ...

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