This Clinical Bite will provide an introduction for speech pathologists to define orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD), identify their causes, understand the scope of practice for professionals, recognise articulation errors, learn assessment and diagnostic processes, explore treatment approaches and emphasise multidisciplinary collaboration for optimal outcomes.

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this workshop, participants will be able to

• define orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) and underlying causes and contributing factors of OMDs,
• identify the scope of practice for professionals working with OMDs and the role of speech pathologists in evaluating and treating articulation disorders related to OMDs,
• recognise common articulation errors associated with OMDs,
• understand the assessment and diagnostic processes for OMDs,
• identify treatment approaches and interventions for OMDs,
• explore the long-term implications of untreated OMDs and the potential impact on oral health, speech and overall well-being,
• learn about the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in the assessment and treatment of OMDs.

Presenter: Dr Sharon Smart 

Dr Sharon Smart is a lecturer and researcher in the Curtin School of Allied Health at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. Her teaching and research expertise are in infant feeding and swallowing in children, tongue-tie and paediatric speech and language development. Until recently, Dr Smart continued to balance teaching and clinic practice. Dr Smart has coordinated and lectured within over 20 undergraduate and postgraduate units in paediatric speech, language, feeding and swallowing.

Over the past five years, Dr Smart’s clinical work and research has encompassed the exploration of orofacial myofunctional therapy and its effectiveness in speech production and feeding. Through her studies, she seeks to contribute to the understanding and advancement of evidence-based practices in this area.

Dr Smart is passionate about extending her teaching and mentoring the next generation of speech pathologists. She prioritises delivering evidence-based assessment and intervention practices, ensuring that students and clinicians are equipped with the most current knowledge and skills in speech pathology.

• Training Hours: 0.38