Balanced Faces Myofunctional Therapy

I can’t say enough about the value and benefit of having Shelly Azevedo as a Myofunctional therapist on my care team pre and post frenectomy. She blends compassionate, listening TLC with a depth and breadth of medical knowledge that is practical, hands on and exactly what was needed to prepare me for this procedure as well as equip me for the post op routine. I am very grateful that I was referred to her and can’t imagine going through this procedure without that support.

We were referred to Shelly by our orthodontist to help correct my daughter’s tongue thrust. After Shelly’s initial exam she had concerns about my daughter also being tongue tied. Shelly referred us to an excellent ENT doctor. Shelly prepared and guided us through the surgery. Once the tongue tie was corrected, my daughter began her myofunctional therapy. Due to covid, all sessions have been through Zoom, but that has not impeded Shelly’s work with my daughter. In the six months since my daughter started therapy, it is amazing to see the changes. Shelly is an excellent therapist. She is very knowledgeable in this field and has worked to provide a well-rounded approach to my daughter’s therapy and health in general. She has been so encouraging and motiving to my daughter. Myofunctional therapy is a long process but having Shelly guide us through it has been worth it.

Around a year and a half ago, I was discovered to have a tongue tie that was likely the cause of a whole slew of systemic health issues I had been struggling with. A close friend of ours, who discovered my tie, has worked closely with Shelly in the past and referred me to her services prior to my revision. Though timing may not have been the most ideal, she was gracious enough to squeeze me into her packed schedule and help me begin to lay ground work for the major physical changes my body was about to experience following the TT revision.

Due to current circumstances and geographical distance (I live in WA state), we have met exclusively through video conferencing which has likely required a significant change in methods on her part. Despite this change, I have been able to receive the same quality of care and involvement I would imagine from typical in person meetings. Over the past several sessions she has been able to assess current function, talk me through exercises and figure out how to tailor them to me based on my verbal report of concerns or from what little of me can be seen. If anything, having to work exclusively through a little screen speaks to her immense skill and talent as a therapist.

For years, the muscles in my tongue and face had been struggling to work in opposition to my tie thus creating ineffective chewing, swallowing and breathing habits. Before coming into this knowledge regarding body work, I had recognized signs here and there that something was wrong but was never able to identify the root. My "giraffe like" tongue movement/chewing patterns (as so eloquently coined by my family) was one of those signs. Through this work and with my new post-revision freedom, I have been retraining my body (especially tongue and mouth) both physically and neurologically to work in a more functional manner.

Shelly's patient support and guidance has proven to be an essential factor in my years long journey back to health and wellness. She is very understanding and willing to work with you and your individual needs. I have personally enjoyed my time talking with and learning more about the great work she does.

Excellent therapist and person! Shelly is a great therapist; she works diligently to provide outstanding service. Shelly has been working with me to address my concerns, and adjust therapy based on my needs, rather than just telling me what to do. I would definitely recommend Balanced Faces Myofunctional therapy to anyone considering therapy.

My daughter has been working with Shelly to correct her frontal tongue thrust since February 2019. Shelly has been amazing to work with. She is positive, dedicated, and willing to go the extra mile to support my daughter as she works to correct her tongue thrust. The results so far are AMAZING!!!!!!!! We are very fortunate to be able to work with Shelly!