New Therapy to Help Patients Breathe, Sleep and Speak Better
September 02, 2025
HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Wellness is now offering Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), a specialized treatment that helps retrain muscles in the face, mouth and throat to work properly.
Unique to this area, this therapy helps people who have problems with:
"Many people don't realize that issues like mouth breathing, snoring or difficulty swallowing can be interconnected and stem from improper muscle function," said Tammy Probst, Rehab and Wellness Director at St. Anthony’s. "Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy gets to the root cause of these problems by retraining the muscles to work correctly, which can have a profound impact on your overall health and quality of life. We're seeing patients breathing better, sleeping more soundly, and experiencing significant improvements in their daily functioning."
Research shows that untreated orofacial myofunctional disorders can have serious long-term consequences. Mouth breathing compromises the body's natural air filtration system, increasing inflammation risk of the adenoids and tonsils. Sleep-disordered breathing significantly impacts cognitive function and academic performance, with studies showing that 40% of children with sleep disorders develop attention deficits or learning disabilities.
The therapy is led by Samantha Probst, a licensed speech-language pathologist with extensive experience serving both children and adults. She has completed advanced training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, specializing in the identification and treatment of oral and facial muscle dysfunctions in children and adults that affect breathing, chewing, swallowing and speech. She is passionate about this therapy and how it can help those in the community. "I am thankful for this opportunity to provide this unique service to the Effingham area, and I cannot wait to see how this new service line impacts so many individuals throughout a variety of ages," she said.
Benefits of OMT
OMT offers a safe, natural approach to addressing multiple health concerns simultaneously. Benefits include:
HSHS St. Anthony’s works collaboratively with other specialists including orthodontists and ENT physicians when comprehensive care is needed.
To schedule a comprehensive evaluation or learn more about Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, contact HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Wellness at 217-347-1243. Staff can assist with getting a doctor’s order from your physician.
Unique to this area, this therapy helps people who have problems with:
- Chronic mouth breathing and snoring
- Sleep apnea and poor sleep
- Swallowing difficulties
- Speech clarity issues
- Orthodontic relapse
- Jaw pain (Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ)
- Chronic head and neck discomfort
- Selective eating patterns (picky eating)
"Many people don't realize that issues like mouth breathing, snoring or difficulty swallowing can be interconnected and stem from improper muscle function," said Tammy Probst, Rehab and Wellness Director at St. Anthony’s. "Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy gets to the root cause of these problems by retraining the muscles to work correctly, which can have a profound impact on your overall health and quality of life. We're seeing patients breathing better, sleeping more soundly, and experiencing significant improvements in their daily functioning."
Research shows that untreated orofacial myofunctional disorders can have serious long-term consequences. Mouth breathing compromises the body's natural air filtration system, increasing inflammation risk of the adenoids and tonsils. Sleep-disordered breathing significantly impacts cognitive function and academic performance, with studies showing that 40% of children with sleep disorders develop attention deficits or learning disabilities.
The therapy is led by Samantha Probst, a licensed speech-language pathologist with extensive experience serving both children and adults. She has completed advanced training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, specializing in the identification and treatment of oral and facial muscle dysfunctions in children and adults that affect breathing, chewing, swallowing and speech. She is passionate about this therapy and how it can help those in the community. "I am thankful for this opportunity to provide this unique service to the Effingham area, and I cannot wait to see how this new service line impacts so many individuals throughout a variety of ages," she said.
Benefits of OMT
OMT offers a safe, natural approach to addressing multiple health concerns simultaneously. Benefits include:
- Improved nasal breathing
- Better sleep quality
- Clearer speech
- Easier eating and swallowing
- Reduced pain
- Increased energy
- Prevention of more serious health complications.
HSHS St. Anthony’s works collaboratively with other specialists including orthodontists and ENT physicians when comprehensive care is needed.
To schedule a comprehensive evaluation or learn more about Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, contact HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Wellness at 217-347-1243. Staff can assist with getting a doctor’s order from your physician.
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