Getting to know Dr. May Poon and Cora Lee
- Transformative Movement Ltd
- Aug 4
- 5 min read
Name
Consulting Speech Therapist & Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
ENT Laser Hearing & Speech Therapy Centre
Senior Speech Therapist & Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
ENT Laser Hearing & Speech Therapy Centre
Place of Birth
We were both born in Hong Kong
How did you get involved with the special needs community?
Dr. May Poon: In 2000, I began my career at the Spastics Association of Hong Kong, where I was the first speech therapist to introduce oromotor and communication therapy services for adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. My focus was on enhancing chewing and communication abilities through structured and systematic oromotor training.
Over the past two decades, I have continued to advance my expertise in evidence-based oromotor assessment and intervention. In 2019, I completed a training course in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy through the International Association of Orofacial Myology in Napa Valley, USA.
Cora Lee: In 2003, I began my career at a special child care centre, where I supported children aged 2–6 years old with special needs. After a few years, I moved to an early education training centre, and later to my current role. Over the years, I have worked with young children, primary and secondary school students, and adults with special needs.
In 2025, I completed a training course in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Perth, Australia. I am also certified in the PROMPT technique, TalkTools® Oral Placement Therapy (Level 1 and Level 2), and the Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention® program.
How are you currently involved with the special needs community in Hong Kong?
Dr May Poon: I currently practise both Speech Therapy and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy supporting both children and adults who present with developmental or acquired conditions, in addressing functional needs related to oromotor performance.
Cora Lee: I work with clients who visit our centre for Speech Therapy and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. I also visit child care centres, schools, and elderly homes to provide ongoing support to those in need.
What age groups do you work with?
We work with all age groups, from infants to seniors.
Are you able to accommodate different types of special needs?
Yes, we have extensive experience working with different types of special needs, including physical, cognitive, and behavioural challenges.
What are some of the more common oromotor issues that you come across when working with children with special needs?
Oromotor weakness and orofacial muscular weakness are quite common among children with special needs. Many children experience chronic drooling, tongue thrust, unclear or slurred speech, picky eating, and difficulty with chewing and swallowing.
Sometimes we may discover a tongue-tie, but for most children, the main challenge will be difficulty controlling the tongue. We also see children who experience difficulty in controlling and coordinating their jaw, lips and tongue at the same time. This can lead to speech difficulties, including unclear speech.
What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are characterized by atypical patterns of muscle movement and resting posture of the face and mouth. These differences can interfere with everyday functions such as breathing, speaking, chewing, swallowing, and sucking.
For example, if a child has weak facial muscle tone, the jaw and lips may remain open most of the time, which can contribute to drooling and mouth breathing. Similarly, if a child lacks adequate tongue control, the tongue may rest in a protruded position and protrude further during swallowing and speaking. This can result in unclear speech and an increased risk of dental malocclusion.
Are there any specific issues that parents can look out for that may otherwise go unnoticed?
Infants may have difficulty with bottle feeding or breastfeeding. For toddlers, challenges may include difficulty chewing, transitioning to solid foods, and unclear speech.
Parents can also look out for signs such as tongue thrusting while eating, persistent mouth breathing both during the day or while asleep, teeth grinding, and snoring. These can be indicators of orofacial weakness and are easily overlooked.
It is important to identify these signs early, as untreated orofacial weakness may contribute to chronic mouth breathing, underdevelopment of the jaw and face, airway issues, and poor sleep quality.
What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is an interdisciplinary treatment approach used to manage OMDs. OMT focuses on improving the function of the oral and facial muscles including the jaw, lips, tongue, cheeks, and soft palate (velum), and supporting the related skills of breathing, speaking, chewing, swallowing, and sucking.
The primary objectives of OMT are to:
1) establish correct tongue posture at rest and during speech, eating, and swallowing;
2) encourage functional nasal breathing;
3) improve chewing and swallowing mechanics; and
4) promote clear, intelligible speech.
Why is it important?
OMDs can affect multiple essential functions, including breathing, speech, and chewing/eating. These difficulties may also influence sleep quality, facial growth, dental occlusion, overall physical development, and, depending on the severity, learning and attention.
Because the effects of OMDs may be long-lasting, early intervention is recommended. By developing healthy oromotor structures and establishing proper tongue posture at rest, during daily activities, and during sleep, OMT supports healthier long-term outcomes.
Are there any special tools or techniques that you use as part of OMT?
Although many OMT exercises can be done without equipment, some children may benefit from specialized tools to build foundational skills. Examples include tongue elevation devices, bite blocks, straws, whistles, and chewy tubes.
Our speech therapists are trained in a range of evidence-based techniques and therapies, including TalkTools® Therapy, Beckman Oral Motor Assessment & Intervention®, and PROMPT, as well as manual myofascial release approaches.
The treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs, and multiple assessment and intervention strategies may be used. For instance, we may combine the Beckman Oromotor program and the TalkTools® approach to help improve the tone, strength, and coordination of the lips and tongue.
For children who experience challenges with articulation and speech coordination, we may use PROMPT to support coordinated movement of the jaw, lips, and tongue to produce specific sounds (phonemes) more accurately.
What are some positive outcomes you have seen over the years in individuals who have received OMT?
Children with orofacial weakness and speech difficulties can typically experience improvement in overall oral function through continued OMT. With targeted articulation training, their speech can become clearer, and their confidence in communicating is likely to increase as well.
They can also develop enhanced chewing and swallowing skills and sustainable habits of nasal breathing and proper tongue placement at rest. These foundational changes can also contribute to better dental alignment.
Do you collaborate with any other professionals to address an individual’s needs more holistically?
Yes, we work closely with otolaryngologists, dentists, and orthodontists.
Where can parents find more information about your work and how to get in touch?
ENT Laser Hearing & Speech Therapy Centre has a website: www.ear.com.hk
We can be contacted via email at: may@ear.com.hk / cora@ear.com.hk
Or via phone: 3106 8689 (Central), and 2523 2883 (TST).
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