Why is it important to make the tongue skinny and wide?

Q: My son is taking orofacial myology treatment.  I have a question on the lingual exercises. Why is it important to make the tongue skinny and wide? I have the same question about releasing the posterior portion of the tongue. I have a hard time doing these exercises myself and I speak clearly, so why should my son need to do them?

I am the parent of a child taking orofacial myology treatment.  I cannot do some of the same exercises he is assigned and I speak fine. 

A:  This question arises on occasion, and we go over it in our training class.  Here are general answers to that:

1. Orofacial Myology evaluations cover much, much more than just the speech.  Sometimes the speech is acceptable but numerous other issues are found and discussed during the thorough orofacial examination assessment.  Sometimes the speech is “ok” but not really as crisp as it could be with some help.
2. Almost all of us have some “myo” symptoms, but unless they come together in such a way as to seek orofacial myology/speech treatment, there is no need to be concerned about them.  This refers to minor symptoms such as the Myo Lip Meter reading is just slightly below normal range for lip “strength” for one example.

However, we have to keep in mind that our clients come to us because they have more significant issues and it is incumbent upon us to maximize them in every possible way before asking or expecting them to progress in speech treatment.  Thus, they must either pass all of proficiency exam one if they are “typical” clients or be maximized if they are not.  Then it is fair to introduce the speech sounds within the program of orofacial myology at the right spot.  For example, if they are lateralizing, then the suction portion of the myo manual treatment program should be passed prior to beginning any work on those sounds.  With /r/, after being certain that all barriers are removed and proficiency exam #1 is passed, it might be ok to introduce the /r/.  I don’t know if you have the Myo Manual or not, but that is what I am referring to as it is set up in three phases.

2. • Phase one: Addressing all barriers and maximizing the tongue excursions to do all that is expected of the human tongue;
   • Phase two: Introducing the suctioning/chewing/bolus collection and more and beginning articulation errors;

Phase three: Putting into daily practice what they can now be reasonable expected to do with speech, chewing, eating, correct oral rest postures, etc.