World Orofacial Motricity Day

February 17th is World Orofacial Motricity Day, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of speech therapists in childhood to solve problems that may occur in children. The creation of World Orofacial Motricity Day took place during the II American and I Ibero-American Meeting of Orofacial Motricity, in the city of Lima, Peru, on June 26, 2015.

This date is celebrated in honor of the outstanding speech therapist Irene Marchesan, whose legacy has transcended borders, setting guidelines for the growth and development of this specialty both in Brazil and worldwide.

What is Orofacial Motricity?

Orofacial Motricity encompasses the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of alterations affecting the oropharyngeal musculature, including lips, tongue, teeth, palate, and jaw. These elements are essential for basic functions such as speaking, chewing, swallowing, among others. We recommend reading: The key to addressing orofacial alterations lies in a deep understanding of the mechanisms and aspects related to speech articulation. In the case of children, it is crucial to understand typical development at the articulatory level and the expected evolution of speech.

Speech Therapist's Intervention in Orofacial Motricity

The speech therapist plays a crucial role in the detection and correction of these alterations. In addition to an accurate diagnosis, speech therapists can intervene effectively whenever the variables that cause and maintain these alterations are controlled. The speech therapist's intervention involves a comprehensive assessment of each case individually. Hypotheses are proposed, contrasting them with information from other professionals when necessary, and an intervention proposal is implemented that considers not only articulation difficulties, but also how they affect the patient's day-to-day life. This allows prioritizing intervention objectives, considering their interests, motivations and strengths, as well as those of their environment.