ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

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Meeting with a new healthcare provider can cause some anxiety, especially when you don't know what to expect at that appointment. Here you will learn what is typically covered during your initial evaluation appointment, so you can feel more at ease and prepared for your telehealth visit. 

The first thing you need to know is: new patient appointments take time. When a new patient calls to make an appointment for their first visit, I make sure they know to allot enough time for it. Most therapists, including myself, spend between 1-2 hours with clients for this evaluation. This amount of time may seem surprising, but the initial visit is very comprehensive. If we are going to be successful in your therapy, I  want to make sure that I am not missing anything. In addition, I personally want to make sure you have enough time to get your questions answered so you can feel comfortable moving forward with any needed treatment.

I like to spend the first few minutes getting acquainted and getting to know you (or your child) a little better. Next, we'll jump into a review of your case/health history forms. Many are surprised that we go all the way back to early feeding habits and experiences. This is necessary because frequently this is when the problems started. In addition, on this form you will find questions regarding your general health, eating and oral habits (past and present), your sleep, airway function, dental/orthodontic history, and the like. This questionnaire is a critical piece of finding out the root cause of your symptoms. Finding your "why" helps us make appropriate referrals as needed, create a customized treatment plan, and achieve success in therapy.

A myofunctional therapist will guide you through a detailed assessment of your breathing, eating, drinking, and swallowing functions and patterns (and more) at your first myofunctional therapy evaluation.

Once we've reviewed your case history and I have a better understanding of your personal situation, the evaluation starts. I will be asking you to "open, close" and to do some other, sometimes seemingly silly movements with your face, lips, tongue, and jaws. Measurements, photos, and possibly videos of various mouth and face functions are also taken. Finally, we end with screenings for speech, swallow, eating and drinking. At this point, I am looking at how your muscles are functioning when you chew and swallow. 

Once the assessment is complete, we go over any questions that you may have. While I always have some insights to share with my patient regarding the evaluation before they leave, I find that I don't get the complete picture until after I review all of my data and rewatch certain video clips. Following the evaluation, you will receive a written Myofunctional Evaluation Report. I will develop your treatment plan based on your individual needs. Treatment typically begins the week after the evaluation. This treatment plan may include a referral to another professional whose services are needed to attain complete resolution of your functional problems or to complement/support therapy goals. 

Your Initial Evaluation in Review

So, let's sum things up. At your initial myofunctional evaluation appointment you can expect to receive:

A comprehensive assessment which includes examination of:                                        

1. Oral Habits
2. Breathing/Respiration Habits
3. Craniofacial/orofacial appearance (ie; symmetry, posture, growth       patterns) and function of related muscles and the jaw joint
4. Hard and soft tissues of the mouth
5. Dental Occlusion 
6. Tongue function, appearance, and rest position
7. Chewing, drinking, and the oral phase of the swallow

We will be looking at:

✅ Medical & Developmental History

– Review of health, sleep, feeding, and dental history 

– Discussion of concerns, symptoms, and goals

✅ Oral & Facial Muscle Function

– Strength, coordination, and tone of lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw

– Tongue posture and ability to suction to the palate

✅ Breathing Patterns

– Mouth breathing vs. nasal breathing

– Resting posture of lips and tongue

✅ Swallowing & Chewing Skills

– How food and liquids are managed

– Signs of compensations or difficulties

✅ Speech & Habits Screening

– Quick look at speech clarity

– Review of habits like thumb sucking, pacifier use, or teeth grinding

✅ Frenum & Structural Review

– Evaluation of tongue tie, lip tie, or other oral restrictions

– Jaw, bite, and facial structure observations

✅ Individualized Recommendations

– A clear explanation of findings

– Guidance on whether therapy is recommended

– Referrals to other providers if needed (dentist, ENT, lactation consultant, etc.)

In addition, the evaluation includes:

• A review of your health/case history forms/questionnaires
• Photographs and videos of facial/oral structures, oral functions, and general face and body alignment (sometimes I am provided these by your referring dentist or ENT)
• A review of assessment findings
• Referrals to additional necessary providers 
• An Evaluation Report
• Treatment Plan (if you proceed with therapy/treatment)

An Evaluation takes about 60-90 minutes and is conducted in our Office which is located at 9675 West Broward Blvd on the border of Davie & Plantation. A small 3.5% processing fee will be added to all transactions. Telehealth is available for anyone over the age of 4.

ASSESSMENT FEES:

• $450- Orofacial Myofunctional Assessment - Available In Office or Telehealth. Includes a Comprehensive Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation Report which is formal detailed narrative report including clinical impressions, recommendations, prognosis, additional referrals, therapeutic goals and much more. 
• This initial 60–90 minute assessment is the most important step in understanding the full picture of how your (or your child’s) mouth, face, and airway are functioning. 
• These evaluation reports are filled with valuable information and provide the big picture, telling a complete story for each client and are invaluable to share with other members of your Myofunctional Team or to use as a baseline to measure your progress against. With your consent, I will send a copy of the report to your referring physician/release provider.  

We will not initiate therapy for any individual who has not completed the Initial Assessment — that would be like trying to write a prescription without ever doing an exam.

The assessment is the foundation of everything we do. It allows us to fully understand the root causes of oral and facial dysfunction, identify the right muscles to target, and create a plan that’s safe, effective, and completely customized. Without this step, therapy would be guesswork — and we don’t guess with health.

ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

STEP ONE - REGISTRATION

• Once your assessment is booked, you will receive a registration link. 
• Registration must be completed within 24 hours of scheduling in order to secure and confirm your assessment time.
• During the Registration Process, you will be asked to provide a valid Credit Card as your form of payment. 
• WE REQUIRE A $100 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT AT THE TIME OF BOOKING AN ASSESSMENT. This will be applied toward the balance of your assessment fee. 
• Your credit card will be charged $100 deposit at the time of scheduling.
• Remainder balance is processed 2 business days prior to your appointment. 

STEP TWO - PAPERWORK/INTAKE FORMS - Once your Myofunctional Assessment is secured, you will receive forms to complete.  This step in the process includes Informed Consent Forms, Patient Registration, Intake Forms and  Specific Questionnaires related to your case. 

• This intake process provides information that is incorporated as part of your overall assessment.
• These forms must be completed and emailed back to me 48 hours prior to your assessment

STEP THREE - INITIATE TREATMENT 

After the Assessment:

If therapy is recommended, we’ll discuss next steps and begin the enrollment process to create a personalized therapy plan and a curated box of tools to support progress at home.

This assessment is the foundation for all treatment — it’s where we connect the dots and create a clear, customized plan for better oral and airway health.

We are licensed in the states of Florida and California. All assessments and treatment are offered via Teletherapy. We do offer in home/in office assessment and therapy to our local clients on a case by case basis. I hope this helps you feel ready to move forward with that first assessment. To book your initial evaluation with Myofunctional Spot™ please click here.