Myofunctional Therapy for Kids in Westlake Village
Help with how the tongue, lips, and jaw rest and move when a child breathes, swallows, and talks, from our speech therapy team.
During business hours, we return calls within an hour.
- Free 15-minute call
- No referral needed
- No waiting list
- Ages
- Birth to 18
- Where
- Your home, school, a private clinic on request, or telehealth anywhere in California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
- How soon
- No waiting list as of October 2026. Evaluations are scheduled within 3 business days of your free consultation.
Maybe a dentist, orthodontist, or pediatrician mentioned "tongue thrust" or "mouth breathing." Or maybe mealtimes, a lisp, or your child's open-mouth posture just caught your eye. Myofunctional therapy works on the muscles of the mouth and face: the lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw. It works on where the tongue rests and how it moves when a child swallows, breathes, and talks. We provide myofunctional therapy for kids in Westlake Village and nearby towns. No diagnosis or referral is needed.
What is myofunctional therapy for kids?
Myofunctional therapy treats patterns in how the muscles of the mouth and face rest and move. These patterns can affect swallowing and speech sounds, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Specialists call these patterns orofacial myofunctional disorders. Therapy uses short, simple exercises, practiced over time, so new habits for resting, swallowing, and breathing become automatic.
What are the signs a child may need myofunctional therapy?
A child doesn't need every sign. If a few feel familiar, an evaluation can show whether the muscles of the mouth are part of the picture.
Signs that can point to it include:
- Mouth open at restLips apart much of the time, even when not talking.
- Tongue rests forwardThe tongue sits against or between the teeth.
- Tongue thrustThe tongue pushes forward between the teeth when swallowing.
- A slushy "s" or "z"Often with the tongue peeking between the teeth, a type of lisp.
- Drooling after age 4Trouble keeping saliva in the mouth past about age 4.
- Mouth breathingBreathing through the mouth out of habit, day or night.
How does myofunctional therapy work?
It starts with an evaluation of breathing, tongue posture, chewing, and swallowing. Then your child practices short exercises in sessions and at home, and you are coached to help.
We see children from birth to 18 for this therapy. Exercise-based programs need a child who can follow directions and practice on their own, and ASHA notes they may not be right for children under 4. Feeding and mouth-muscle support can start earlier, and the plan is built around your child.
Sessions are playful and run 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service. A few minutes of practice each day between visits is a big part of this work, so your plan includes parent coaching.
Does myofunctional therapy work with my child's dentist or doctor?
Yes. Speech-language pathologists provide it as part of a team. That team includes the family and, when needed, the child's dentist, orthodontist, or doctor.
We do not perform tongue-tie releases, but we provide therapy before and after one and coordinate with the provider who does.
Snoring and other sleep concerns always need a doctor's evaluation. Myofunctional therapy can be part of a team plan, but it is not a stand-alone treatment for sleep apnea.
Is myofunctional therapy the same as speech therapy?
No, but they overlap. Speech therapy works on sounds, words, and language. Myofunctional therapy works on how the muscles of the mouth and face rest and move during breathing, swallowing, and speech.
When a child needs both, we plan them together. A lisp, for example, can be tied to where the tongue rests.
What happens when you start myofunctional therapy?
It starts with a free 15-minute consultation. If an evaluation is the right next step, it is scheduled within 3 business days. The written report follows within 14 business days, with a treatment plan if therapy is recommended.
Free 15-minute consultation
You talk with a licensed speech-language pathologist about what you are noticing at home and at school. If we don't think an evaluation is needed yet, we will say so.
Evaluation within 3 business days
If an evaluation is the right next step, it is scheduled within 3 business days of your consultation. It looks at how your child breathes, where the tongue rests, and how your child chews, swallows, and talks. We also ask about sleep, habits, and any dental or orthodontic care. It usually takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Written report and recommendation
Within 14 business days, you get the written evaluation, and a clear treatment plan if therapy is recommended. The plan sets graduation goals: the skills that show a child is ready to finish therapy.
Parent coaching
Your plan includes parent coaching. You learn the home exercises and how to make them part of your day.
Sessions
Sessions are playful and run 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service.
Who would my child work with?
Myofunctional therapy is part of our speech therapy services, led by Nita Anavim, M.S., CCC-SLP. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist and co-founder of Therapy Clubhouse.
- Degrees
- M.S. and B.S., Communicative Disorders and Sciences, California State University, Northridge
- Certification
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- California license
- No. 38532Verify on the state license search (opens in a new tab)
“I want them to leave feeling like they came to play with someone new.”Meet Nita →
How much does myofunctional therapy cost, and can I use insurance?
Coverage depends on your plan. You can use your insurance through our partner, Village, which handles the billing. Village accepts PPO plans from several major insurers, and TRICARE.
Village also charges its own fee for each visit, in addition to your copay or deductible. Before therapy starts, Village goes over the expected cost with you.
We are waiting to become in network with major insurance companies. Until then, Village is how insurance works with us.
You can also pay privately, and we give you a superbill to send to your plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. On the free 15-minute call, we check your coverage before you commit to anything.
What else do parents ask about myofunctional therapy?
Is my child too young for myofunctional therapy?
Possibly not. We see children from birth to 18, and feeding and mouth-muscle support can start early. Exercise-based programs need a child who can follow directions and practice; ASHA notes they may not be right under age 4. An evaluation shows what fits.
Do you perform tongue-tie releases?
No. We provide the therapy that prepares for and follows a release, and we coordinate with the dentist, ENT, or surgeon who performs it.
Will myofunctional therapy fix snoring or sleep apnea?
Sleep-disordered breathing always needs a medical evaluation. Myofunctional therapy can support healthier breathing and mouth posture as part of a team, but it is not a stand-alone treatment for sleep apnea.
Can myofunctional therapy happen by telehealth?
Yes. We offer it in your home and by telehealth anywhere in California. Much of the work is daily practice, which fits well at home.
Do you offer in-person myofunctional therapy in Westlake Village?
Yes. We see children at home, at school, in a private clinic on request, and by telehealth anywhere in California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026, at 2535 Townsgate Road, Suite 110.
Is the free call the same as an evaluation?
No. The free 15-minute call answers your questions and points you to the right next step. It is not an evaluation. If therapy looks like a fit, the evaluation comes next.
What areas do you serve?
We provide myofunctional therapy for families in Westlake Village and nearby towns. These include Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Telehealth is available anywhere in California.Thousand OaksAgoura HillsOak ParkNewbury ParkCalabasasMoorparkSimi ValleyAll locations
“If you're concerned about your child's development, don't wait. You know your child best.”
About 1 in 6 children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities. (CDC)
We build every child's plan and goals around one aim: graduating from speech or occupational therapy. That is our goal with every child.
If something about how your child breathes, eats, or talks keeps catching your eye, it is worth a look. Tell us a little more about what you're noticing. Let's talk about it.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing about your child. A licensed therapist reads every message, not an assistant, and replies within one business day. The consultation is free, lasts about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation. There is no waiting list. If you would rather talk now, call (805) 702-3427.
