Kaylene French
MSc-SLP, RSLP, SLP(C), CCC-SLP
A member of:
SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) encompasses conditions such as snoring, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and central sleep apnea (CSA) (Mohammadieh et al., 2017).
Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs), including symptoms like mouth breathing, snoring, and teeth grinding, are often linked to factors like enlarged tonsils, allergies, or tongue ties. These issues can affect sleep quality.
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Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for improving symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly in mild to moderate cases. Studies have demonstrated that OMT strengthens and tones the muscles of the oropharynx and surrounding areas, which helps reduce airway collapsibility during sleep. This muscle strengthening is crucial for improving nasal breathing, repositioning the tongue, and reducing snoring and apneic events.
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Research, such as that conducted by Guimaraes et al. (2009), found that oropharyngeal exercises significantly reduced the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in patients with moderate sleep apnea. Similarly, Camacho et al. (2015) conducted a meta-analysis which concluded that OMT can improve snoring and reduce AHI, making it a complementary treatment alongside CPAP or surgery. If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of Sleep-Disordered Breathing, please contact me for an assessment.
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See below more information on Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing.
Signs of Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing include:
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Regular Mouth breathing (day or night)
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Snoring (at any age)
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Asthma
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Upper respiratory infections
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Ear infections
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Bed-wetting
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Nightmares/terrors
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Apneic episodes
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Headaches/migraines
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Neck, jaw, or ear pain
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Thumb or finger-sucking
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Poor academic performance
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Hyperactivity/aggressive behaviors
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ADHD-like/sensory symptoms
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Clenching/grinding teeth
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Restless sleep, multiple wake-ups
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Daytime sleepiness
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Delayed growth/obesity
Modified from @Kimberly White Speech & Myofunctional Therapy
Reference List
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Camacho, M., Certal, V., Abdullatif, J., Zaghi, S., Ruoff, C. M., Capasso, R., & Kushida, C. A. (2015). Myofunctional therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep, 38(5), 669–675. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.465​
Camacho, M., Guilleminault, C., Wei, J. M., Song, S. A., Noller, M. W., Reckley, L. K., Fernandez-Salvador, C., & Zaghi, S. (2018). Oropharyngeal and tongue exercises (myofunctional therapy) for snoring: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 275, 849–855.​
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​Diaféria, G., Santos-Silva, R., Truksinas, E., Haddad, F. L. M., Santos, R., Bommarito, S., Gregório, L. C., Tufik, S., & Bittencourt, L. (2017). Myofunctional therapy improves adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Sleep and Breathing, 21(1), 387–395.​
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Felício, C. M. de, da Silva Dias, F. V., & Voi Trawitzki, L. V. (2018). Obstructive sleep apnea: Focus on myofunctional therapy. Nature and Science of Sleep, 10, 271–286.​
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Guimarães, K. C., Drager, L. F., Genta, P. R., Marcondes, B. F., & Lorenzi-Filho, G. (2009). Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 179(10), 962–966.
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Mohammadieh, A., Blunden, S., Rigney, G., & Fung, S. (2017). Sleep-disordered breathing: Spectrum of abnormalities from snoring to central sleep apnoea. Internal Journal of Medicine, 47(11), 1241-1247.​
Verma, R. K., Johnson, J. R., Goyal, M., Banumathy, N., Goswami, U., & Panda, N. K. (2016). Oropharyngeal exercises in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea: Our experience. Sleep and Breathing, 20(4), 1193–1201.​
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Villa, M. P., Evangelisti, M., Martella, S., Barreto, M., & Del Pozzo, M. (2017). Can myofunctional therapy increase tongue tone and reduce symptoms in children with sleep-disordered breathing? Sleep and Breathing, 21(4), 1025–1032.​​
CONTACT ME
My name is Kaylene French and I run my own private practice with a limited number of hours, in order to deliver quality services to my clients. I provide assessments and therapy sessions. Please contact me if you have any questions.