Family First Myology

10/07/2026

Most people don’t realize that poor sleep looks completely different in children than it does in adults. When we don't sleep well, we get tired and sluggish. But when kids have fragmented sleep? They get wired.

Children experiencing interrupted sleep often get stuck in a chronic state of hyper-arousal, which can cause behavioral symptoms that mirror or worsen ADHD.

If your child is struggling, take a close look at their nights. Do they:
😮 Breathe with their mouth open?
😴 Snore or gasp for air?
🔄 Toss and turn constantly?
😓 Sweat heavily during the night?
⏰ Wake up frequently?

Restless nights lead to restless days, but it doesn't have to stay this way. Our team has helped hundreds of families (including our own!) resolve hidden sleep issues and finally get the deep, restorative rest they need.

Give us a call today. Let’s get your child—and your whole family—sleeping better.

10/05/2026

Please join us in welcoming Kerri Holcomb, MS, CCC-SLP to our team! Kerri is a speech-language pathologist with 21 years of experience working with children and families in both school-based and Birth to Three early intervention settings. She earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from West Virginia University in 2004.

Kerri is passionate about helping children build the skills they need to communicate, learn, and thrive. She values a family-centered, practical approach to therapy and especially enjoys partnering with families and celebrating the growth and progress that happens along the way.

She has recently developed a special interest in myofunctional therapy and the role that oral function can play in areas such as breathing, sleeping, and eating. She continues to expand her knowledge and training in this area while bringing more than two decades of pediatric speech-language pathology experience to her work.

We’re especially excited to welcome Kerri to Family First Myology! Her addition will allow us to open up more of our coveted after-school appointment times, making it easier for families to find therapy times that work with their busy schedules.

10/02/2026

Turns out “continuing education” can actually be fun. 😉📚

We’re always learning, growing, nerding out over new research, and finding ways to make our care even better.

Because when you’re passionate about what you do, **you never really stop being a student.** 🧠✨

Here’s to staying curious, asking questions, and giving our clients the top-notch care they deserve!💙

09/29/2026

We are so happy to connect with another airway-aware provider in WV! If you’re in the Charleston area, give them a like and a follow!

Studio 3

09/28/2026

She tried to do myofunctional therapy ‘on her own’ for a year, with limited results. Finally, she decided to reach out for professional guidance.

After just two visits, she texted: ‘I’m already seeing progress!’ 🙌

Myofunctional therapy isn’t just a collection of random exercises you see on social media. It should be targeted, individualized, and based on what YOUR muscles and oral functions need.

The good news: not everyone needs a long course of treatment. Sometimes, making a few targeted changes can make a big difference in function, comfort, and quality of life—and help reduce pain.

If you’ve been thinking about myofunctional therapy but aren’t sure where to start, give us a call!

09/08/2026

This is why we do what we do. ❤️

Myofunctional therapy isn’t just about exercises for your tongue—it’s about helping your muscles work together the way they’re supposed to, so everyday things like eating, resting, and sleeping can feel easier.

10 visits. Real changes. A happier, more comfortable bite. 👏

Your symptoms are telling you something. Let’s figure out what.

09/01/2026

I talk A LOT about kids, sleep, airway, and early intervention… but let’s not forget about the older teens and adults! ❤️

Myofunctional therapy can be beneficial at any age when breathing, oral posture, swallowing, or sleep are part of the picture.

And the red flags in adults can look a little different:

🚩 Snoring
🚩 Teeth grinding or clenching
🚩 Waking with a dry mouth
🚩 Excessive daytime fatigue
🚩 Chronic tension headaches
🚩 Jaw pain, clicking, or TMJ symptoms
🚩 Mouth breathing during the day or at night
🚩 Restless or unrefreshing sleep
🚩 Waking with headaches
🚩 Neck, shoulder, or facial tension

You don’t have to just “live with it.” Your breathing, sleep, and oral function can impact how you feel every single day.

✨ Better breathing. Better sleeping. Better living.

If you’re an adult who sees yourself in this list, I’d love to help! Give Family First Myology a call and let’s see if myofunctional therapy is right for you.

08/27/2026

Snoring isn’t always harmless. Research has found that children who snore regularly may have differences in attention, memory, and cognitive functioning compared with children who don’t snore.

One study found average:
🧠 Global IQ: 96.7 in snorers vs. 110.2 in non-snorers
🗣️ Verbal IQ: 92.6 vs. 110.2

This does not mean that snoring causes a lower IQ—but it does remind us that how a child breathes and sleeps can matter for daytime learning and functioning.

🚩 If your child snores, mouth breathes, sleeps restlessly, grinds their teeth, or wakes tired, it may be time to take a closer look.

Wondering whether your child’s breathing could be affecting their sleep and daytime functioning? , Give us a call at Family First Myology.

Better breathing. Better sleeping. Better school days. ❤️

📚 Kennedy JD, et al. Reduced neurocognition in children who snore. Pediatric Pulmonology. 2004;37(4):330–337. doi:10.1002/ppul.10453.

08/25/2026

Our website got a few updates! Thank you to photographybymckinzi for the new photos and thevirtualmax for your expertise and patience while we worked through this project!

Speech and myofunctional therapy for children and families, in person or virtually. In-person and virtual services available in West Virginia, Pennsylvania & Ohio. Speech Therapy Myofunctional Therapy Click each service to learn more about how we can help your family. Helping Families Thrive Through...

08/01/2026

New research just reinforced what many in the airway world have been saying for years. 👏

Their conclusion, word for word:

"Integrating myofunctional therapy with rapid palatal expansion (RPE) is significantly more effective than structural correction alone for restoring nasal breathing."

Palatal expansion creates the space for improved nasal breathing, but myofunctional therapy helps retrain the muscles and habits that influence breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, and oral function.

When we address both anatomy and function, we're not just creating change—we're helping the body learn how to maintain it.

That's why collaboration between orthodontists, dentists, ENTs, and myofunctional therapists is so important. The best outcomes happen when we treat the whole picture—not just one piece of it.

✨ Better breathing.
✨ Better oral function.
✨ Better long-term outcomes.

As a certified myofunctional therapist, I love seeing research continue to support the multidisciplinary approach that helps patients achieve lasting results.

📚 Reference: Buonanno E, Jubani J, Schirripa M, et al. Effect of myofunctional therapy associated with rapid palatal expansion on the restoration of nasal breathing in pediatric patients. Annali di Stomatologia. 2026;17(2):293–300.