IJOM Aims & Scope Update

In response to the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing and to more fully encompass the scope of the field of orofacial myology and myofunctional therapy, the International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy (IJOM): Official Journal of the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) has refined and expanded its scope and focus areas. These revisions were a collaborative effort between IJOM’s Editorial Board and IAOM’s Executive Committee in addition to professional advisors at our publishing partner, MDPI. As Editor-in-Chief of IJOM (NPS) and President of IAOM (JEL), we confirm that we have contributed to and approve of these revisions.

The previous version of IJOM’s Aims and Scope listed a series of disciplines that could be represented by publications in IJOM. In the revision, we instead listed types of disorders that are addressed in the practice of orofacial myology according to the recently revised IAOM Scope of Practice. This is followed by a list of topics that are related to the principles and applications of orofacial myology across the lifespan.

The development of the 2026 IAOM Scope of Practice represents a deliberate and collaborative effort to bring clarity, consistency, and credibility to the field of orofacial myology. As the specialty continues to grow across diverse professional backgrounds, it became essential to define not only what Certified Orofacial Myologists (COM^®) do, but how that work is consistently understood and applied. The outlined areas of evaluation and intervention, including non-nutritive sucking habits, detrimental orofacial habits, oral rest posture dysfunction, neuromuscular patterns related to chewing and swallowing, functional breathing patterns, and oral phase swallowing dysfunction, were carefully selected to reflect the functional core of orofacial myology while maintaining clear and appropriate boundaries. Throughout this process, emphasis was placed on aligning clinical practice with a certification-governed model, ensuring that competency is defined by standardized training and assessment rather than professional background alone.

The updated IAOM Scope of Practice was formally reviewed and approved by the IAOM Board of Directors in April 2026, reflecting the organization’s commitment to establishing clear professional standards that support practitioners, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the continued advancement of the specialty. As part of this commitment, IAOM Scope of Practice documents are reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis to reflect emerging evidence and evolving clinical practice; the most current version can be accessed directly through the IAOM website for up-to-date reference.

In addition to the IAOM’s areas of clinical focus, the research topics listed represent the scope of appropriate IJOM submissions. They reflect areas of investigation and clinical disciplines that are related to orofacial myofunctional disorders and therapy but are not necessarily directly clinically applicable. This opens the pool of potential articles to topics that support and inform clinical practice without requiring that they directly affect it. Topics were generated by considering clinical practice, previous publications, emerging trends, and recommendations by the IJOM’s editorial board members. Finally, they were reviewed by the Indexing Department of MDPI for precision and specificity so that potential authors would have clear guidelines about the journal’s contents.

We invite papers for consideration for publication that address, challenge, support, refute, or otherwise contribute to the literature about orofacial myology, including normal bases, related disorders, and clinical interventions. If you are unsure whether your paper fits the scope of the journal, please send an inquiry to the IJOM’s editorial office at ijom@mdpi.com. The journal’s dedicated editorial team is always available to assist you and ensure a smooth and rewarding publishing experience.