How long does myofunctional therapy usually last? 

There are many variables that impact how long treatment lasts. Children are generally seen for between 3 to 9 months. The length of time depends on the severity, age, and length of time before seeking treatment, as the longer you wait the more habits you’ll need to undo. 

Since we’re focused on learning new habits, the length of treatment also depends on practice at home and the elimination of problematic oral habits (like bottles or thumb sucking).  

Treatment for young babies with a tongue-tie is focused on caregiver training. Our newborn package includes 3 visits: a consultation, one pre-op visit, and two post-op follow-up visits. 

Adults typically need to spend a little longer in therapy, as they have years of dysfunctional muscle memory to repattern. Plus, adults often require some additional medical or dental work to address underlying structural issues resulting from decades of compensating. We’re pros at adjusting the treatment schedule to meet your needs throughout your journey. 

Why do you recommend intensives for orofacial myofunctional therapy? 

The learning curve at the beginning of treatment can be a challenge for some kids and adults because it’s so important to eliminate oral habits and get through the initial period of hypersensitivity.

Instead of prolonging this time by starting over during each weekly session, everyone is happier when we get those wins immediately so we can start retraining the muscles for long-term results. 

In practical terms, instead of drawing out the process by doing 30 minutes once a week for a month or two, you’ll get maximum carryover from session to session by doing 30 minutes sessions every day for the 1st week. Then you’ll be ready to hit the ground running with your ongoing weekly sessions for better and faster results. 

Does insurance cover myofunctional therapy?

Airway Academy is an out-of-network provider for insurance. This means you’ll have to pay out of pocket for our services. We’re more than happy to provide you with a superbill receipt which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. 

Please note that we’re not able to provide diagnosis codes, so the code we get from your physician will be used when generating the superbill.

Where is myofunctional therapy with Airway Academy available?

What if I’m outside California?

For clients outside of Los Angeles, we’re excited to provide virtual coaching. These sessions will guide you through the right exercises to start doing at home. 

Just like our in-person therapy, we’ll answer your questions and provide resources to give you peace of mind and a path forward.

Do I need a doctor's order for myofunctional therapy?

By and large, we tend to see clients once they’ve been referred to us by a dentist, doctor, or pediatrician. If you’re hoping to be reimbursed for our services through insurance, the only way to get the required diagnosis code is through a healthcare provider.  

We complete myofunctional therapy as a component of either our occupational therapy or speech therapy services, so your doctor will need to write orders for either occupational therapy or speech therapy. We’re happy to support you in facilitating this process!

That being said, if you’re an adult who has experienced chronic issues with breathing that you feel have gone overlooked or improperly treated and you don’t mind paying out of pocket, we’d be happy to work with you directly to help get you started with one of our team members.