A parent's story · Sandy Springs, GA
Your orthodontist just
handed you a referral slip.
It says "myo therapy" or "myofunctional therapy." It does not explain much else. This is what it actually means, and what to do next.
The real response
You nodded.
You said you'd
look into it.
That's the honest answer. Most parents leave the orthodontist's office with a referral slip, no clear next step, and a child who isn't in pain. It doesn't feel urgent. So it waits.
"Took us 3 months to finally book it." , Parent on r/braces
The gap
3
Weeks. That's how long most families wait before following up.
That was
3 weeks ago.
The referral is still on the counter. Nobody explained what a myofunctional therapist actually does. Nobody gave a timeline. Nobody said what happens if you wait.
What the referral actually means
Tongue posture.
That's what the
referral is about.
At rest, the tongue should sit at the roof of the mouth. When it pushes forward or rests low, it applies steady pressure against the teeth. Braces move teeth into position. Swallowing patterns keep pushing them back out.
Up to 2,000
swallows a day.
Every one applies pressure to the teeth.
Why timing matters
Ages 6-12.
The jaw is still forming.
The palate is moldable during this window. Lip closure, oral rest posture, and swallowing mechanics can all be retrained more effectively before the jaw hardens. After 12, it becomes significantly harder. Your orthodontist gave you the referral now for a reason.
→
Mouth breathing patterns are easier to address earlier
→
Myo therapy coordinates with active orthodontic treatment
Demystifying the first step
What happens at
the intake consult.
1
Amanda evaluates tongue posture, lip closure, and oral rest posture
2
She reviews your child's swallowing mechanics with you
3
You get a clear answer: is myo therapy needed, and what does the plan look like
Free. No obligation.
Just clarity.
What makes Lasting Language different
This is what
Amanda does differently.
Amanda Smith, SLP
Certified Myofunctional Therapist · LSVT LOUD Certified
CMT · One of few in Atlanta metro
Amanda is also a homeschooling mom. Families consistently notice that she understands how children develop and how parents actually learn. She doesn't just hand you a protocol. She explains what's happening in terms that land.
Lasting Language Therapy · Sandy Springs, GA
Save this.
Share it with a parent
who got the referral.
Pediatric myofunctional therapy. CMT certified. Free intake consult for ortho referrals. Amanda Smith, SLP. Now serving North Atlanta families.
Book Free Intake Consult
@lastinglanguage
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Buying intent · Post-referral searches
Parents are
searching this
after every ortho
appointment.
"what is myo therapy"
High
"is myo necessary for braces"
High
"myofunctional therapist near me"
Med
Search: myo therapy · #myofunctionaltherapy #orthodontistreferral
The confusion gap
The referral slip
creates more
questions than
it answers.
No explanation. No timeline. No specialist name. Parents go home and search because the appointment didn't give them enough to act on.
123
comments in one r/braces thread. All asking the same thing.
The mechanism
Braces move teeth.
Tongue thrust
moves them back.
Every swallow, the tongue pushes against the teeth. Up to 2,000 times a day. That's why your orthodontist referred for myo therapy. Swallowing patterns keep applying pressure after the braces do their job.
#tonguethrust #myotherapy #tongueposture
What the referral doesn't say
3 things your
referral slip
didn't include.
1
What myo therapy actually is and why it works
2
How urgent the timing window is (ages 6-12)
3
What specialist to call or what the first step looks like
#orthodontistreferral #myofunctionaltherapy #mouthbreathing
Free intake consult
The intake consult
answers all of it.
✓
Is myo therapy actually needed for your child
✓
What tongue posture and lip closure issues are present
✓
What the treatment plan looks like, clearly explained
#intakeconsult #tonguethrust #myotherapy
Lasting Language Therapy · Sandy Springs, GA
Book the free
intake consult.
No obligation.
Amanda Smith, SLP. CMT certified , one of few in Atlanta metro. Pediatric myofunctional therapy for ortho referrals. Free intake for families who received a myo referral.
Book Free Intake
@lastinglanguage
Search: myo therapy Atlanta · #myofunctionaltherapy #orthodontistreferral #tonguethrust #atlantaslp