“True healing requires more than techniques — it requires knowledge, presence, intuition, and a deep respect for the whole person.”
— Dr. h.c. Susanne Codoni
For more than five decades, Susanne has worked at the intersection of science and humanity. Together with children, families, and healthcare professionals, she has dedicated herself to restoring some of life’s most fundamental functions: breathing, voice, speaking, swallowing, and quality of life.
Her career began in 1968 as a teacher, followed by work as a speech therapist from 1973 and as a special education teacher from 1975. She recognized early on that sustainable development and healing require far more than technical expertise: knowledge, presence, intuition, and a deep understanding of the whole person.
As the long-standing head of the cantonal Speech Therapy Service and one of Switzerland’s early speech therapists during the 1980s and 1990s, Susanne made important contributions to the field of speech therapy. Her work was further shaped by international collaborations, her speech therapy work at University Hospital Basel, many years of experience in her own practice, teaching and lecturing activities throughout Europe and in developing countries, the development of the k-o-s-t therapy concept, specialist articles, and contributions to professional publications.
Susanne became a pioneer in the treatment of orofacial functional disorders and craniofacial malformations.
In 2011, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Basel awarded her an honorary doctorate in recognition of her life’s work, her commitment to patients including those in developing countries, her scientific contributions, and her consistently interdisciplinary professional approach. Susanne’s work represents the connection between scientific understanding, therapeutic expertise, and genuine human care.
Susanne begins her career in 1968 as a teacher, from 1973 as a speech therapist, and from 1975 as a special education teacher. She recognizes that sustainable development and healing require far more than professional techniques: knowledge, presence, intuition, and a deep understanding of the whole person.
As one of the first classically trained speech therapists, from the 1980s onward she provides important impulses for the emerging field of recognizing and treating orofacial functional disorders in speech disorders and their connection with whole-body functions.
Susanne leads the Speech Therapy Service of Basel-Stadt, promotes interdisciplinary diagnostics and therapy, develops the concept of body-oriented speech therapy (k-o-s-t), and opens new paths in the treatment of orofacial dysfunctions.
She is a co-initiator of the interdisciplinary clinic for cleft lip, jaw and palate at University Hospital Basel – a pioneering collaboration between surgery, orthodontics, ENT, and speech therapy.
1989–2013: Speech therapist on the cleft clinic team.
Through her teaching, lectures, and mentoring of medical professionals across Europe, she increasingly succeeds in bringing orofacial dysfunctions into the focus of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Development of the Body-Oriented Speech Therapy concept – a holistic approach connecting posture, breathing, language, speech, voice, neuromuscular balance, and orofacial function.
From 2003: Registered trademark.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the field, she is awarded honorary membership of the German Society for Speech and Voice Medicine.
Development of the Ballovent therapeutic aid in cooperation with colleague Ulrike Hörstel in Germany – registered trademark.
Susanne opens her own practice with an interdisciplinary orientation and deepens her clinical work with children and adults.
She works part-time as an independent scientific associate at University Hospital Basel and contributes to research and interdisciplinary care.
Through partnerships and teaching activities across Europe and beyond, her work gains international importance and strengthens her role as a pioneer in orofacial functional disorders and craniofacial anomalies.
The Faculty of Medicine awards Susanne an honorary doctorate in recognition of her life’s work, her commitment to patients including those in developing countries, her scientific contributions, her consistent interdisciplinary professional orientation, and the combination of scientific understanding with therapeutic expertise.
Susanne works on site as part of medical teams on missions in Nicaragua, Romania, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, and Ukraine – treating patients and teaching functional rehabilitation.
For several years, she works as a speech therapist within medical teams on assignments in developing countries for children with cleft lip, jaw and palate conditions.
Based on her own idea, Susanne Codoni develops the first generation of an aid for training lip closure as well as the lip, cheek, and tongue muscles together with a German company.
The resulting Lip-Cheek-Tongue Trainer (LWZ) is widely used in the therapy of orofacial functional disorders. The collaboration ends in 2020.
With the founding of the Swiss company CODONIS AG, the LWZ Trainer is modified and developed into a vestibular myofunctional therapy device for “targeted vestibular muscle stimulation.”
The device uses acupressure points in the oral vestibule associated with the body’s meridians, is manufactured with Swiss precision from medical-grade TPE polymer, and is launched as a Class I medical device.
During this phase, CODONIS further develops its therapy concepts and product solutions. CODONIS ONE and CODONIS ORB emerge as two complementary medical therapy devices supporting different areas of orofacial and myofunctional rehabilitation while consistently advancing CODONIS’ holistic approach.
A new space. A new energy. A new team. A new chapter for CODONIS begins.
The legacy continues – with every trained professional, every patient supported, and every step toward restoring harmony.
Susanne is a dedicated speech therapist and a therapeutic expert who breaks new ground and makes a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of her clients through her innovative way of thinking and tireless commitment. She is a driving force in myofunctional therapy and is committed to making the impossible possible.
Michael, with his solid dental background, is the man who seamlessly implements ideas from development to go-to-market. With his keen eye for detail and his innovative strength, he successfully brings new concepts to market
Dr. Sarah Qadeer is an accomplished academician with a deep passion for dental education. She is known for her ability to bridge science, strategy and human connection, with a mission to translate academic insight into meaningful corporate impact. At CODONIS, she contributes through strategic initiatives linking dentistry with myofunction, scientific validation in the field of myofunctional therapy while strengthening international collaborations.
Marlène is a trainer in myofunctional therapy and is characterized by her francophone ease and methodical approach. Her well-founded contributions and ability to convey complex concepts in an understandable way contribute significantly to the further development of her colleagues’ and clients’ work.
To help people achieve optimal orofacial health through innovative, sustainable and personalised therapy.
By bridging together evidence‑based myotherapy with human warmth, we empower every child, every adult, and every clinician to breathe, function, smile with confidence and thrive.
We design and deliver intelligent medical devices, myofunctional concepts backed by scientific validation, and educational programs that translate scientific evidence into practice within the field of myofunctional therapy to improve the standard of care.
A world where every breath, every swallow, every word flows in functional harmony.
To revolutionize the treatment of orofacial and myofunctional disorders- globally.
CODONIS Vestibular Myofunctional Therapy sets a new global benchmark for evidence-based, holistic care in orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD). Through interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous innovation, we empower therapists to deliver precise, standardized therapies that enhance patient outcomes and improve quality of life.
Continue this journey with us