About Me.
Robyn Merkel-Walsh M.A., CCC-SLP, COM®
Robyn Merkel-Walsh, M.A., CCC-SLP, COM ® is a NJ/NY Licensed Speech Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist® & Vocologist with three decades of experience in the state of NJ. She is employed full-time by the Ridgefield Board of Education and runs a private practice (Diamond MYO & Vocology) in Ridgefield, NJ. She has been elected as the NJ Kids Top Doctors in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 & 2023. Robyn received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Montclair State University, where she was later invited to be an adjunct/clinical supervisor. She has also taught courses at Brescia University, Bergen Community College and is a former clinical site coordinator for Seton Hall University. She is the proud recipient of four ASHA ACE Award and the Ridgefield Woman of the Year 2019 in Business. She is an Ambassador of The Breathe Institute.
Specialization: Robyn specializes in Oral-Placement, feeding and Orofacial Myofunctional disorders. She is Beckman and PROMPT trained. Her private practice focuses on Oral-Placement (OPT), oral motor, orofacial myofunctional (OMT), muscle and motor-based disorders in children, and vocology. She conducts evaluations and Program Plans for children across the tri-state area.
​Publications: Robyn is a well-respected subject matter expert and advocate of evidence-based practices. Her publications include: MYOSolutions (Systematic Intervention for Lingual Elevation), Art Talk, Handy Handouts, OPT-S Kit, and she co-authored Sensory Stix, A Sensory Motor Approach to Feeding, Functional Assessment and Remediation of Tethered Oral Tissues and OPT Goals for Speech Clarity. She has also written multiple articles for the TalkTools® website, the ASHA Leader and Advance Magazine for Speech Pathologists. She has been published five consecutive years at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Recently Robyn has also been published in multiple journals including Clinical Pediatrics, Journal of the American Laser Study Club, the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation and her four contributions in the International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy are included in the top ten downloads of all time.
Lecturer: Robyn is a lecturer for professional enhancement courses as part of TalkTools® Speakers Bureau. She teaches courses on OPT, TOTs, MYOTools™, Tongue Thrust, airway that have been offered for ASHA CEs. She has been invited to speak on diversified topics by the New Milford Board of Education, The Apraxia Network, AAPPSPA, the International Association of Orofacial Myology, Gold Learning, The American Laser Study Club, the International Consortium of oral Ankyloglossia Professionals, The American Academy of Physiological Medicine and the MOSAIC Foundation (to name a few). She is also a guest faculty member of The Breathe Institute.
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Volunteer Work: Robyn is actively involved in parental support groups for TOTs, OPT and Childhood Apraxia of Speech and monitors an interactive Oral Placement Discussion Board on Facebook. Robyn was a chief clinician in a research project for the Moebius Foundation and was a clinical site supervisor for Malloy College. She is a member of ASHA, AAPPSPA, NJEA, IAOM, OMI, ICAP and AAPMD. She served a term on the NJSHA Board of Directors and as the private practice co-chair. She was Associate Editor of the IJOM in 2020 and serves as the volunteer CE Coordinator for Marshalla Speech and Language. She also mentors doctoral and master’s candidates on their research as a clinical expert.