Technical Report • Labial-Lingual Posturing FunctionTechnical Report 1989 / III - 149 Labial-Lingual Posturing Function Ad Hoc Committee on Labial-Lingual Posturing Function This report was prepared by the members of the ASHA • This pattern changes with growth and matu- Ad Hoc Committee on Labial-Lingual Posturing Function: ration to the extent that many different swallow Robert M. Mason (chair), Michelle M. Ferketic (ex officio), patterns can be identified from infancy to child- Sheila S. Gideon, Marvin L. Hanson, Ralph L. Shelton, Ida hood; M. Wiedel, and monitoring vice president for clinical af- • At some time in development, a tongue protru- fairs, Teris K. Schery. The report was approved by the ASHA sion swallow is no longer the norm and can be Executive Board in June 1989 (EB 65-89). considered undesirable or a contributing and In keeping with the American Speech-Language- maintaining factor in malocclusion, lisping, or Hearing Association Executive Board policy of peri- both; odic review of products and positions statements (EB • A related condition that has a stronger link to 123-87), the Ad Hoc Committee on Labial-Lingual malocclusion is a forward resting posture of the Posturing Function was charged to (1) review current tongue. Such chronic postures can interfere information about oral myofunctional phenomena as with the eruptive sequence of the dentition and related to communication disorders, (2) prepare a po- lead to malocclusion. This is consistent with sition statement on the role of speech-language pa- orthodontic theory and research that long- thologists in the management of oral myofunctional acting forces against the teeth result in tooth disorders, and (3) make recommendations for devel- movement whereas short-acting (intermittent) oping standards of practice. forces are not as likely to cause tooth movement; This Ad Hoc Committee recognizes the interdisci- • There is descriptive evidence that during the plinary interest in speech-language pathology and course of oral myofunctional therapy, some in- dentistry in conditions, terminology, and practices dividuals have corrected or controlled a tongue associated with patterns of oral-facial-pharyngeal thrust swallow and an anterior resting posture; posture and function related to speech and occlusion. • Diagnostic attention should be directed toward Many speech-language pathologists provide oral determining whether a tongue-thrust swallow myofunctional services. and a forward tongue resting posture coexist in The Ad Hoc Committee reviewed pertinent studies a given patient. When these conditions coexist, on oral myofunctional processes. Although there are a greater link to malocclusion would be ex- many unanswered questions, evidence supports the ex- pected than from a tongue-thrust swallow istence of certain phenomena and relationships: alone. However, there is insufficient evidence • All infants exhibit a tongue thrust swallow as to show that a forward tongue posture and a normal performance; tongue-thrust swallow are more detrimental than a tongue-forward resting posture alone. There is also some evidence that a tongue-for- ward resting posture or a tongue thrust swal- Reference this document as: American Speech-Language- low and lisping coexist in some persons. Hearing Association. (1989). Labial-Lingual Posturing Correction of tongue function or posture may Function. Rockville, MD: Author. facilitate correction of the lisp, or the Index terms: Malocclusion, oral myofunctional disorders, interdentalization of the /t/, /d/, /n/, and / oral myofunctional treatment, speech-language pathol- l/ phonemes; ogy, tongue thrust Document type: Technical report III - 150 / 1989 ASHA 2002 Desk Reference Volume 3 • Speech-Language Pathology • In normal development, slight separation of the Sucking habits, when present, are usually elimi- lips at test (“lip incompetence”) is normal in nated before treatment for tongue thrust begins. The children. With growth, the lips typically emphasis in treatment is on lingual and labial resting achieve contact at rest in the teenage years. Some postures, but most approaches include a number of individuals, however, persist in a lips-apart muscle retraining exercises, followed by instruction in posture after development has advanced suffi- the handling and swallowing of solids, liquids, and ciently to permit lip closure. Such individuals saliva. Speech treatment is given when indicated, di- may be candidates for treatment; rected principally toward the normalization of fronted • There is some evidence that lip exercises can be lingual-alveolar consonants. Patients are seen for fol- successful in facilitating a closed-lip posture; low-up sessions for various periods but usually until completion of all orthodontic treatment. • Sucking habits (e.g., finger, thumb, tongue, lips) can influence dental development. When 4. Length of treatment: 14 to 20 sessions or more tongue thrusting and thumb sucking coexist are typical, over 3 months to a year, depending on into mixed dentition, developmental correction approach, age, and maturity of patient, and timing in of the tongue thrust would not be expected un- relation to orthodontic treatment. til the thumb, finger, or sucking habit ceases; 5. Nature of approaches: Most speech-language and pathologists apply behavior modification principles, • Variables in addition to learning influence basing treatment on evaluative findings, altering be- tongue posture. They include posterior airway haviors systematically, extending control of stimuli obstruction, which may involve tonsils, ad- and responses, and establishing maintenance. enoids, nasal blockage, high posterior tongue position with a short mandibular ramus, or a Recommendations long soft palate. Many morphologic features or combinations of features can reduce oral Because of the complexity of issues and variables isthmus size and obligate the tongue to rest involved with oral myofunctional disorders, the Ad forward. Diagnostic procedures should distin- Hoc Committee recommends an interdisciplinary ap- guish such patients from those with other proach to the planning, treatment, and further study forward tongue postures or functions. The of those disorders. Some combination of observations obligatory tongue forward posture group would from dental specialists, usually orthodontists, and seem unlikely candidates for myofunctional speech-language pathologists should precede treat- therapy in the absence of medical treatment. ment for some oral myofunctional disorders. Referral Any indicated remedial medical procedures are to other medical specialists, such as otolaryngologists, usually carried out prior to consideration of pediatricians, or allergists may also be indicated. A myofunctional therapy. diagnosis is needed that distinguishes learned behav- ior from obligatory function due to physical deviation. Treatment: Current Procedures We recommend development of continuing edu- cation activities designed to promote competency in the 1. Age of patients: Typically patients are seen be- treatment of oral myofunctional disorders. We also tween the ages 8 years through 16 years, with a range encourage developments in university curricula to re- of age 4 through 50 years. flect basic and applied information pertinent to: 2. Timing of treatment: A majority of patients are 1. Oral-facial-pharyngeal structure, development treated following orthodontic treatment, but concurrent and function; and pretreatment is also common. 2. Interrelationships among oral-vegetative func- 3. Scope of treatment: Many patients treated for tions and adaptations, speech, and dental occlusion, oral myofunctional diseases are referred by dental using interdisciplinary approaches; practitioners. Dentists (especially orthodontists) provide occlusal and morphologic information, 3. Nature of atypical oral-facial patterns and their treatment and follow-up. relationship to speech, dentition, airway competency, and facial appearance; The speech-language pathologist evaluates the 4. Relevant theories such as those involving oral- structure and function as the first step in treatment motor control and dental malocclusion; planning. Technical Report • Labial-Lingual Posturing Function 1989 / III - 151 5. Rationale and procedures for assessment of oral mental research studies are needed. Detailed case stud- myofunctional patterns, and observation and partici- ies would also be helpful. Research should be directed pation in the evaluation and treatment of patients with to the nature, evaluation, and treatment for oral oral myofunctional disorders; myofunctions and disorders and related factors. 6. Application of current instrumental technolo- Future inquiry into these disorders may identify gies to document clinical processes and phenomena subgroups characterized by different combinations of associated with oral myofunctions and disorders; and functions, occlusion status, speech status, and forces 7. Treatment options. obligating or predicting anterior tongue position. We anticipate that members of these subgroups will need The Ad Hoc Committee believes that part of the different treatments or respond differently to treat- ongoing controversy over the treatment of oral ment. Data are needed regarding both status and myofunctional disorders is linked to terms that have change in patients’ oral myofunctional characteristics unnecessary negative connotations. While we recog- and disorders. nize that there should be an interdisciplinary consid- eration of terminology, certain words should