Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®️

Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®️ has specialized for over 30 years in orofacial myofunctional, feeding and motor speech disorders. She is employed by the Ridgefield Board of Education, owns Diamond Myo & Vocology, is the board chair of the Oral Motor Institute, is an adjunct professor at Brescia University and is a member of the TalkTools® speakers bureau. She created the MYOTools series, teaches TOTs,  orofacial myology, and motor speech courses  through the TalkTools continuing education. Robyn has been invited to speak on an international level , and has been a keynote speaker for ICAP, the IAOM and serves as a guest faculty member and ambassador of The Breathe Institute. Robyn has received specialized training in Oral Placement Disorders, feeding, motor speech disorders, Applied Behavioral Analysis, autism, cranio-facial anomalies, Beckman Oral Motor and PROMPT.  She also received a post-graduate vocology certificate from Lamar University,  and is now servicing professional voice users for optimal airway and voice health.

Books by Robyn

• Functional Assessment and Remediation of TOTs (Tethered Oral Tissues) (co-written with Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, CLC)
• A Sensory-Motor Approach to Feeding (co-written with Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, CLC)

Articles by Robyn

• Functional Assessment of Feeding Challenges in Children with Ankyloglossia
• Social Media: It's Different for Professionals
• A Further Dialogue on Oral Placement Therapy (OPT)
• Diet-Shaping for Self-Limited Diets in Children With a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• A Modern Look at Van Riper's Phonetic Placement Approach
• Using Tactile Techniques to Improve Speech Clarity in Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech
• Connections Between Tongue Placement and Dental Alignment
• Oral-Motor Issues
• The Similarities and Differences of Oral-Motor Therapy and PROMPT
• Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy: What's the Connection?
• Oral-Motor, Sensory, and Feeding Skills
• Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) vs. Non-Speech Oral Motor Exercises (NSOME): Understanding the Debate
• A Case for Oral Placement Therapy
• What Evidence-Based, Oral Sensory-Motor Treatments are Effective for Speech Disorders?
• Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders in Individuals with a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome
• AAPPSPA Position Statement – Oral-motor Therapy
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Clinical Parameters of Oral Placement Therapy (OPT)