Meet the Team
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly, breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, and more.
The Experts
Hope Fernicola SLP COM
Hope Fernicola, M.A. CCC-SLP, COM is a N.J. and Pennsylvania Licensed Speech Language Pathologist and Certified Orofacial Myologist™. A graduate of Montclair State University, her experience is extensive and includes developmental pediatrics, feeding therapy, apraxia, oral motor based therapy (TalkTools, Beckman, PROMPT), speech, voice, language, and literacy disorders.
Robyn Merkel Walsh SLP COM
Robyn Merkel-Walsh, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Licensed Speech Pathologist with over two decades of experience in the state of NJ. In addition to owning her own practice, she works full time for the Ridgefield Board of Education where she is housed in the Magnet School Program for children on the Autism Spectrum
Shira Katz Kirsch SLP/COM
Shira has been an SLP since 1989 and has been in private practice since 2005, after having worked in rehab and acute care settings. She evaluates and treats all ages for a variety of communication and swallowing and feeding disorders. She has been a Certified Orofacial Myofunctional therapist since 2016.
Nancy Calamusa SLP
Nancy Calamusa, SLP is a speech-language pathologist in East Brunswick, NJ. She specializes in speech-language pathology.
