Organic speech sound disorders (SSDs), including those rooted in structural, motor, muscular, or sensory etiologies, present unique challenges that often fall outside the scope of traditional articulation therapy. The classic sequence of listen, discriminate, imitate, and remediate may yield limited results for these cases, particularly when session time is short and carryover is difficult to achieve.

In school and medical settings, speech-language pathologists are frequently constrained by high caseloads and limited session durations. Yet, research underscores the importance of high-dose frequency for motor speech disorders and muscle-based interventions for orofacial myofunctional disorders. Techniques such as Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) are often essential, but difficult to integrate within <30-minute sessions.

Robyn Merkel-Walsh brings 30 years of hands-on experience treating organic SSDs across public school and private practice settings. Her expertise lies in creating efficient, themed, and culturally inclusive lesson plans that combine tactile interventions with goal-driven articulation work. In this engaging webinar, Robyn will:

• Demonstrate how to integrate oral motor, placement, and OMT strategies into 30-minute sessions
• Share ready-to-use worksheets, data sheets, and homework activities
• Explore seasonal, cultural, and thematic lesson planning to maximize engagement
• Equip participants with tools to meet motor-based speech goals within real-world time constraints

Note: This course will not teach specific oral motor techniques but will instead focus on how to effectively incorporate them into short articulation therapy sessions to enhance educational and functional communication outcomes.

1. List 2 symptoms of structural, muscle-based and motor based organic speech sound disorders.
2. Describe 2 challenges that are faced when conforming to speech sessions that are 30 minutes and under.
3. State 3 factors that keep a 30-minute speech session for organic SSDs efficient and evidence based.

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

Registration Fees

• $150  0.2 ASHA CEUs, digital workbook/handout & certificate of completion.

Schedule

Timed Agenda

• 10 minutes - Introduction, Goals, Disclosures
• 30 minutes - Organic Speech Sound Disorders and Evidence Based Practice
• 15 minutes - Frequency, Duration and Scheduling Sorrows and Solutions
• 55 minutes - 30 Minute Lessons for Organic SSDs
• 5 minutes - Q & A
• Total: 115 Minutes

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Content Disclosure: This presentation will focus on treatment methods related to the use of TalkTools® resources. Other similar treatment approaches will receive limited or no coverage during this lecture.

Satisfactory Completion: 
To receive a Certificate of Completion learners must: attend the entirety of the course; complete the course quiz with a passing score of 80% accuracy or higher and complete the course completion survey. Learners must request to be reported to ASHA CE.

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