Questions & Answers
What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?
OMDs are any behavioral habit or oral structure that interferes with the normal functioning of the mouth. These include sucking habits, open-mouth resting posture, difficulty with /s, sh, j, z, r, l/ sounds, an overbite, a high narrow palate, and messy eating past toddlerhood. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, Regina can help with the functional aspects of OMDs. She can help connect you with other professionals who work on the oral structure, including dentists and ENTs.
Can Practical Speech help with all communication disorders?
As a speech-language pathologist, Regina can identify and treat all communication issues, including articulation, fluency, voice/resonance, language, cognition, hearing, swallowing, social communication, and alternate communication modalities. However, just as a kindergarten teacher is an expert at teaching reading but not at teaching physics, Regina is not an expert in all communication disorders. If, after the consultation or assessment, she feels that your child has needs outside of her scope of expertise, she will work with you to find a therapist who can better support your child.
How can I set up an appointment?
Contact Regina by emailing hello@PracticalSpeechPhilly.com or text/call her at 267-422-2722. You can also use our booking link. Appointments are typically available within a week.
What's included in an Evaluation?
During your initial eval, we will screen your child’s language abilities, inventory their spontaneous speech sound productions, and complete a full evaluation for orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) and feeding skills. The initial evaluation will be tailored to your child’s specific concern, whether it is feeding, myofunctional, or speech-based. For babies under 1-year-old, the evaluation will focus heavily on myofunctional and feeding assessments with a brief screening of speech and language development and is offered at a discounted rate. All families will receive initial homework and a complete care plan following the evaluation so therapy can begin immediately. A complete evaluation report is typically shared with families two weeks after the initial evaluation.
What can I expect in each session?
Home sessions are typically 45 minutes: 30 minutes of direct therapy with the child and 15 minutes of review and practice with the parent(s) and child.
School or Office sessions are typically 30 minutes: 5 minutes of review, 20 minutes of direct therapy, and 5 minutes of practice with parent(s).
All sessions are based on principles of motor learning and use kid-friendly games and materials.
What can I expect from treatment?
Treatment sessions typically take place once each week or every other week. Daily homework is important for treatment progress. When we begin meeting goals we space the therapy sessions out over longer periods, with therapy taking place once every four to six weeks.
How long will my child be in therapy?
Parents often wonder how long their child will be in speech therapy. The answer depends on several factors: the family's goals, skill of the clinician, and the child's engagement in therapy. Because we specialize in the treatment of OMDs at Practical Speech, our approach is different from traditional speech therapy. Our therapy approach combines traditional speech therapy with muscle-focused therapy, which aims to correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. While we believe our approach reduces the overall amount of time a child spends in therapy, the amount of time spent in therapy depends heavily on attending therapy consistently, the underlying issue being addressed, and families practicing homework between sessions. Parent involvement in their child’s therapy is often the key to success. Clients with an isolated speech sound disorder typically work with us for about 6 months - clients with multiple sound disorders, oral habits preventing feeding/speech success, or complex diagnoses typically work with us for about 12 months. Clients with feeding disorders typically work with us for between 3 and 12 months. We are dedicated to your child’s success at Practical Speech Philly and work closely with families to set priorities, discuss any limitations that may inhibit progress and set up therapy break plans if needed.
.png)
Ready to work with us? Fill out the form for a free consultation!
