Ages 4+
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
For the tongue thrust your orthodontist flagged, and the mouth posture behind it.
Tongue thrust, low or forward tongue resting posture, mouth breathing, prolonged thumb or pacifier habits, and tongue-tie (before or after release) all shape how a child's speech, swallowing, and even orthodontic treatment turn out. Orofacial myofunctional therapy retrains those muscle patterns, and it's a formal specialty here.
Signs to watch for
- Your orthodontist or dentist flagged a tongue thrust or open-mouth resting posture
- A frenectomy (tongue-tie release) is planned or done, and therapy was recommended
- A lisp or "slushy" speech alongside mouth breathing or messy, effortful swallowing
- A thumb, finger, or pacifier habit that has outlasted every sticker chart
Our approach
Clare Lashley, M.A., CCC-SLP, a certified orofacial myologist and one of few practicing in Atlanta, leads this caseload. Treatment retrains resting posture, chewing, and swallowing patterns with a structured exercise program families can actually follow, coordinated directly with your orthodontist, dentist, or ENT so the myofunctional work and the orthodontic plan reinforce each other rather than fight.
Why orthodontists send families to us
Braces can move teeth, but a tongue that rests and pushes in the wrong place moves them right back. Correcting the muscle pattern first (or alongside treatment) protects the orthodontic investment. We report progress to your referring provider at every review, and the same clinical rigor applies: baseline measurement, structured goals, data at every step.
Who treats this at TALK
Clare Lashley, M.A., CCC-SLP, Orofacial Myologist
Clare leads our orofacial myofunctional and feeding caseloads, working hand-in-hand with Atlanta orthodontists, dentists, and ENTs.
Meet the whole team →Every plan begins with a comprehensive evaluation and ends with measurable goals reviewed on a set schedule. See the full process →
Begin here
Start with a conversation.
Your call reaches a person who knows speech and language, live or returned the same or next business day. We’ll listen, tell you honestly whether an evaluation makes sense, and explain exactly what happens next.
Calls returned the same or next business day · Evaluations typically within 1–2 weeks · After-school appointments available · TeleTherapy backup for busy weeks