ROBYN MERKEL-WALSH M.A., CCC-SLP, COM®

Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs)

Functional assessment and treatment of tongue tie and oral tissue restrictions.

Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) refer to restricted frenula in the oral cavity — including tongue tie (ankyloglossia), lip tie and buccal (cheek) ties. When these tissues are restricted, they can impair feeding, speech, airway and orofacial myofunctional development.

Robyn Merkel-Walsh is an author, international lecturer and subject matter expert on the diagnosis and treatment of TOTs. She evaluates patients of all ages — from infants who have difficulty nursing to adults with voice and swallowing disorders related to tongue restriction.

Her approach is fully functional: she evaluates what the tissues are preventing the patient from doing, collaborates with medical providers (ENTs, dentists, pediatricians) for frenectomy when indicated, and provides pre- and post-operative myofunctional therapy to maximize outcomes.

Robyn collaborates with leading TOTs specialists including Dr. Youngnan Cho at Mt. Sinai and Dr. Scott Siegel in NYC.