Sleep & ADHD

National SleepFoundation.org:

Doctors are starting to realize the importance of treating sleep problems and the impact this can have on both ADHD symptoms and quality of life for ADHD patients and their families.


An estimated 25 to 50% of people with ADHD experience sleep problems, ranging from insomnia to secondary sleep conditions.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Can help

Children & Adults Behave Differently When Sleep Deprived:

"Adults become sluggish, where children overcompensate and speed up. 

Children may also become moody, emotionally explosive, aggressive, inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive and display oppositional behaviors."11,13,14,15

Stanford University Study: 
“Current literature demonstrates that orofacial myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Improvements to snoring and daytime sleepiness. 
Shown effective in children and adults of all ages studied thus far; youngest patient 3 yrs old to 60 yrs old. 
Therapy has an important role in preventing relapse.”35

Is Your Child Starting to Display Any Of These Symptoms?

Causes Long Face Syndrome11,16,19,23

Crooked Teeth

Narrow Jaw and Face

Poorly Defined Cheekbones

Tired Eyes

Jaw Set Back

Smaller Airway

Underdeveloped Nasal Airway

Poor Posture

Brain Fog11

Decreased Productivity8,9,10,11,23

Poorer Academics: Performing Poorly at School11

Poorer Quality of Life8,9,10

Increased Stress24

Decreasing Health

Frequent Cavities & Gum Disease23
Dehydration: Dries out our bodies and mouths 42% more than nasal breathing22
Diagnosed with ADHD11,13,14,15

Tired8,9,10,11,23

Reduced Growth Hormone Production: May not be growing as fast as their peers. Takes a while to heal.31,32,33

Sleep Apnea: Breathing Stops While Asleep for a Varying Length of Time

Dry Mouth, Sore Throat, Headaches, Trouble Paying Attention, & Irritability12

Memory Loss: Sleep helps to consolidate memories12

Mental Confusion12

Weakened Immune System: Reduced number of T-cells12

Depression6

Fatigue12

High Blood Sugar Levels3

Deprives Body of Needed Oxygen Levels12

Acid Reflux12

Asthma5

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Capable Of? 

At Oral-Facial Advantage, we guide your child's growth towards a more balanced oral-facial foundation. Aiding to prevent, or soothe the many disorders you see through-out this website.


Reflexive vs. Conscious

We chew, swallow, breathe, and rest our mouths as an un-trained reflexive habit. 

The Oral-Facial Advantage Program is a personalized straightforward set of exercises, scientifically designed to build new beneficial long-term muscle-memories.


At What Age Can My Child Begin Oral-Facial Muscle Therapy?

The younger the child the more flexible their physiology and behavior. 


Mature 3 to 4 year old mouth breathers can learn nasal breathing.

Mentally prepared 5 year old's can begin the Oral Habit Elimination Program.

7 to 8+ year old's can start their Oral-Facial Advantage Program.


Who is Eligible for a Free Consult?

Everyone.

All ages can come in for a free consult. 


It is a great opportunity for your questions to be answered, and for the Orofacial Myologist to assess your child's readiness for the program.

Book a Free In-Person Consultation Today

See the Difference. 
Make a Lasting Impact in Your Child's Health Today:

Benefits of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

  • Soothes or relieves headaches

  • Can help reduce snoring & apnea

  • May reverse some ADHD symptoms

  • Opens upper airways

  • Can prevent long face syndrome

  • Alleviates facial pain

  • Improves posture & core muscle stability

  • Increases jaw range of motion

  • Facial symmetry: Tones facial muscles & tissues

  • Improves focus, memory, productivity

  • Lowers harmful stress hormones

  • Relieves digestive discomfort

  • Eliminates habits involving the mouth

  • Much more

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

The mouth, head, and neck are a complex weave of muscles, tissues, joints, bones, blood vessels, and nerves that all need to work together for a smooth, discomfort free daily function.


Currently, we are born and grow with little direction and training in this area of our bodies. We eat the way we eat, we chew on the side that is most comfortable, we swallow whichever way gets the food down, our tongues rest wherever they rest, we breathe the easier way, and we have repetitive habits that soothe our stress that can involve our faces and mouths.


All of these reflexive habits can create abnormalities in your child's oral and facial structures, and since they have been doing them throughout their youthful growth, their bones and muscles have molded around these untrained habits, potentially creating ingrained disorders in their later years.


Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists specialize and only focus on the muscles and tissues throughout the tongue, jaw, face, head, and neck. Weekly exercises are given that either tone or relax these muscles and tissues aligning them to your child's center. Working from their foundation up. Progressively resetting years of habits. Most children will complete the program within the year and yet their new symmetry could last their lifetime.


A Stanford University Systematic Review revealed the lasting beneficial effects of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in a wide cohort:

“Current literature demonstrates that orofacial myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Improvements to snoring and daytime sleepiness. Shown effective in children and adults of all ages studied thus far; youngest patient 3 yrs old to 60 yrs old. Therapy has an important role in preventing relapse.”48

Sources

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2Gunduz C, et al "Obstructive sleep apnea independently predicts lipid levels: Data from the European Sleep Apnea Database" Respirology 2018; DOI: 10.1111/resp.13372.

3Jimmy Doumit, Bharati Prasad. "Sleep Apnea in Type 2 Diabetes" Diabetes Spectrum 2016 Feb; 29(1): 14-19.

4Omar A. Mesarwi, Rohit Loomba, Aul Malhotra. "Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypoxia, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" ATS Journals 2018 Nov; V199, I7.

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13“ADHD and Sleep.” ADHD & Sleep Problems-National Sleep Foundation. National Sleep Foundation, 2017. Web. 11 Feb.2017. https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/adhd-and-sleep.

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21Damaging Effects of Forward Head Posture.(2015, January 22). Retrieved from http://www.denvertechchiro.com/files/fhp_revised.pdf

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23Surtel A, Klepacz R, Wysokińska-Miszczuk J. Wpływ toru oddechowego na jamę ustną [The influence of breathing mode on the oral cavity]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2015 Dec;39(234):405-7. Polish. PMID: 26802697.

24Steffen, Patrick R et al. “The Impact of Resonance Frequency Breathing on Measures of Heart Rate Variability, Blood Pressure, and Mood.” Frontiers in public health vol. 5 222. 25 Aug. 2017, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00222

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35https://news.stanford.edu/2020/07/21/toll-shrinking-jaws-human-health/