In person
In your home in Richmond or Henrico, and in Chesterfield case by case.
Orofacial myofunctional therapy
Myofunctional therapy for kids in Richmond, VA
Maybe your dentist noticed your child’s tongue pushes forward when they swallow. Maybe your orthodontist mentioned mouth breathing, or your child just had a tongue tie released and you were told to “find a myo therapist.” Now you’re searching for one, and wondering what it actually is.
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is exercise for the muscles of the mouth and face. It helps kids rest their tongue in the right spot, breathe through their nose, and chew and swallow the way their teeth and jaw need them to. We offer it in your home around Richmond and online over Zoom for families in Virginia and Illinois.
What we help with
You don’t need a diagnosis to ask. These are the reasons families most often reach out:
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Their mouth hangs open when they’re resting or watching TV.
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They breathe through their mouth, day or night.
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Their tongue pushes against or between their teeth when they swallow or talk.
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Eating is messy, slow, or hard because of how their mouth works.
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A dentist or orthodontist has mentioned tongue thrust or a tongue tie.
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They’re getting ready for, or just had, a tongue-tie release.
What a program looks like
Myofunctional therapy on its own starts at age 5.
If your child sees a dentist, orthodontist, or the provider who released a tongue tie, we’re glad to coordinate with them, with your consent.
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It starts with an evaluation. Karlie looks at how your child’s tongue, lips, and jaw move at rest, when they swallow, and when they talk. Then she builds a short set of exercises that fit your child’s age and attention span.
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Sessions are usually once a week. Each week comes with a short home program.
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Most of the progress happens at home. Kids practice a little each day, and sessions check the form, add the next step, and keep it fun.
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How long the program takes depends on your child. We’ll talk about it after the evaluation and check in as you go.
For dentists, orthodontists, and other providers
If you see kids with tongue thrust, mouth breathing, or a tongue tie before or after release, we’d love to work with you. Send families our way through our referral page. With the family’s consent, we’re glad to share how it’s going.
Training behind the therapy
Karlie Libraro, M.S., CCC-SLP, is trained in Simon Says Myofunctional Therapy and in orofacial myofunctional disorders through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). She has worked with children since 2015, in schools, clinics, and private practice.
In person or online
Myofunctional therapy works well by video, because it’s built around practice you can watch and coach. That makes it one of the easiest services to do from home.
Online
Live Zoom sessions for families anywhere in Virginia or Illinois.
Cost and insurance
Private pay is the same for every service we offer. Coverage for myofunctional therapy depends on your plan, so check with your insurance before you start. Some families use a superbill to ask for reimbursement, which isn’t guaranteed.
- Phone consultation, 15 minutes
- Free
- Evaluation, 1 hour
- $250
- Therapy session, 30 to 45 minutes
- $125
Questions families ask
Is myofunctional therapy the same as speech therapy?
Not quite. They overlap, and Karlie is a speech-language pathologist, so if your child's speech sounds are part of the picture, she'll look at both.
How old does my child need to be?
Myofunctional therapy on its own starts at age 5. If your child is younger, ask us on the free call, because feeding or speech therapy may be the right place to start.
Do you see adults?
Our practice is for children. Adults can book a consultation about myofunctional therapy.
Does it hurt?
No. The exercises are small movements of the tongue, lips, and jaw.
Do we need a referral?
No. Many families come through a dentist or orthodontist, but you can reach out on your own.
Start with a free call
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. Tell us what your dentist or doctor said, and we’ll talk through whether myofunctional therapy fits your child and whether in person or online makes more sense for your family.