Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Hi all, Just to refresh because I haven't posted in a while: my 3 yr old son was diagnosed with severe apraxia last June. He has been doing extremely well, with the speech therapy and fish oils (2 EFA and 1 EPA)and carnotene(800mg/day). As a matter of fact, he's doing so well his speech therapist refers to him as her poster boy, and to most non-trained people it just sounds like an articulation problem. There is a point however, depending on the length of the word or sentence when it breaks down and you just can't understand him. All in all we were very happy with his progress until about 5 weeks ago when he started stuttering. And I mean Stuttering! like every time he opened his mouth. Coincidentally, I had just run out of carnotine and naturally assumed that that was the culprit, imagine my surprise a couple of weeks later when I restarted the carnotine and it did not help at all. About that same time some one here had posted that their child's stuttering had gone away when they added the EPA. Since my son was already getting the EPA the only I could think to do was to increase it. So that I did. He is now getting 2 EPA and 1 EFA per day, and wonder of wonders it has pretty much worked. His stuttering is not gone comepletely but it's down to about once or twice a day. This has taken forever(sorry)but here is my question: does anyone see a problem with this formula (too much GLA)? Also, any other suggestions (ratio change or otherwise) to help stuttering would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance, you guys are the best. Deborah, mom to Nigel 3, severe apraxia, no other issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 2, 2003 Report Share Posted February 2, 2003 I think it depends on the child. My son was on 2 Pro-efa for months and then when I tried the Pro-EPA he started losing focus exhibiting strange behaviours that he had never done before. When I stopped the Pro-EPA they eased up and then dropped the Pro-efa down to 1 a day and they subsided immediately. I have not seen any speech regression so I'll keep at this dose until something changes. > > does > anyone see a problem with this formula (too much GLA)? > Also, any other suggestions (ratio change or otherwise) to help > stuttering would be greatly appreciated. > Thank you all in advance, you guys are the best. > Deborah, mom to Nigel 3, severe apraxia, no other issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2003 Report Share Posted February 7, 2003 Hi all and Thank you, , for responding. I never would have thought to lower dosages, so I will try that next if I need to. What I am doing at the moment is doubling everything (2 Efa, 1Epa 2 X per day) and his stuttering is down to about 2 or 3 times a day. Everyone has noticed a big improvement, and this is only day 3. I am very happy with this so far and my hopes are definately up. Will let you know what's happening after 1 week on the double dosage. Bye for now, Deborah, mom to Nigel, 3.2 severe verbal apraxia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 Re: Stuttering Did anyone see the Oprah show which aired last week on stuttering. I missed it but my sister said it was amazing. It showed a device placed in the ear of a person who stutters. She said the device tricked the brain into thinking other people were speaking because people who stutter speak better when others are speaking. They showed people before and after the device and the results were amazing. My sister called my crying -- thinking maybe one day they would have a device that could help my apraxic son. Hopefully, right! The man who invented it stuttered himself since childhood. He said that he knows why he was made that way -- so that he could help others. Pretty amazing, huh. Again, I did not see it myself but thought those of you who have children who stutter would like to look into it. Lynaugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 I saw it! It was amazing!!! Re: [ ] Re: stuttering > Re: Stuttering > > Did anyone see the Oprah show which aired last week on stuttering. I missed > it but my sister said it was amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 An interesting article about the SpeechEasy device: Stopping the Stutter Expert: New Device May Help Control Condition http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DailyNews/stutteringGMA020801.html Aug. 1 — Wesley Cook is, in most regards, a success. An adored big brother and popular college senior who is graduating this December first in his class. And he's accomplished all that in spite of a very real handicap that's been almost impossible to beat — stuttering. His parents have watched him struggle with his disorder for two decades, wishing they could do anything to help their son. " For there to be even a chance that he could be helped at all and help boost his self esteem and self-confidence is a miracle, " says his mother, Debbie Cook. " It's just something we've wished for so long — for him to talk. " Joe Kalinowsy knows the feeling all too well. " I see the pain in these children and I go, 'Oh, now I remember.' " " I prayed every night, " he says. " Take off my arm, God, because I know kids will tease me for not having an arm. But if I can talk the same as every other kid, that'll be OK. And I'd get up and the arm was still there. And I'd begin to talk and the stutter was still there. And I'd turn up to the heavens and say you didn't do it. I guess he had another purpose. " That little boy grew up to become a speech therapist at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., and one of three inventors of a device that would change his life, and the lives of stutterers like him. They call it the " Speech Easy Device. " Developed at the university, the gadget fits in the canal of one ear and works like a small PA system, complete with microphone, amplifier, and speaker. It delivers delayed and altered voice feedback to the stutterer, tricking the brain into thinking that another person is speaking, too. " Experts aren't exactly sure why this works, but they do know from previous research speaking in unison with one or more people inhibits stuttering, " explains ABCNEWS Medical Editor Dr. , on Good Morning America. Four Factors Researchers have yet to discover the cause of stuttering, although data points to four compounding factors: genetics, neurophysiology (how the brain works), child development, and family dynamics. According to Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation of America, more than 50 percent of people who stutter have a family member with the condition. " Current research is focusing on actual brain abnormalities in people who stutter, " she says. " Researchers are also looking at the types of pressures put on children when they begin to talk, and how that child develops. " Yet Fraser is hesitant to endorse the Speech Easy, advising people to exercise caution and not get their hopes up too high. " We've seen so many devices come and go, " she says. " We take a very cautious approach because we don't want people to be disappointed. Until we see some serious long-term research, it would be difficult for us to make a big pronouncement. It's not particularly new. " Fraser is quick to point out while devices may help some people with their stuttering, there is no cure for the condition. " There's a lot of work that goes into any long term success. What we find is that some things work for three or six months, but they don't get any long term success without a lot of work. She says speech therapy remains the main treatment option, and warns that electronic aids can sometimes cause more harm than good. 'Dream Come True' But Kalinowsky is optimistic, citing a 90 percent response rate so far in 123 patients. Cook, for instance, began to speak fluently once the device was fitted. " Oh it's awesome, " he says. " I'm able to get it out now. I'm going to use it a lot. And there's always ideas I have in my head I just am not able to get out. " His mother describes the joy she felt when she heard her son speak: " It's just our dream come true for him. Because we've tried everything we knew and would never really give up hope. We've always prayed there would be that something and we just can't believe we've found it. " Kalinowsky says helping others with the same disability is gratifying. " I've suffered the same things that he's suffered. I know the same pain. So I don't want him to have the same pain for the same time that I had it for because I'm an old man. I don't want him to go through that, " he says. Re: [ ] Re: stuttering > Re: Stuttering > > Did anyone see the Oprah show which aired last week on stuttering. I missed > it but my sister said it was amazing. : 1/21/03 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.445 / Virus Database: 250 - Release Date: 1/21/03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 , I did see that show & your sister is right it was amazing! What I thought was so brilliant was it works as soon as you put it in the first time! The Dr. who invented it brought me to tears. Wendie > Re: Stuttering > > Did anyone see the Oprah show which aired last week on stuttering. I missed > it but my sister said it was amazing. It showed a device placed in the ear > of a person who stutters. She said the device tricked the brain into > thinking other people were speaking because people who stutter speak better > when others are speaking. They showed people before and after the device and > the results were amazing. My sister called my crying -- thinking maybe one > day they would have a device that could help my apraxic son. Hopefully, > right! > > The man who invented it stuttered himself since childhood. He said that he > knows why he was made that way -- so that he could help others. Pretty > amazing, huh. > > Again, I did not see it myself but thought those of you who have children who > stutter would like to look into it. > > Lynaugh > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2003 Report Share Posted February 11, 2003 I admit, I do not post on here much,no time I guess.Occasionally I read posts,and reply. My son is apraxic, 5, moderate, but he does stutter, and started that about 1 yr ago. Usually it seems he does it when he is in a hurry to say something and stops when i say slow down, etc. When kids are Apraxic, is stuttering something they will continue to do? I do not know much about Apraxia, mostly becuase my husband does not want to hear it, but, If anyone can answer that I would appreciate it, ALSO, he seems to not understand or comprehend the fact he cannot have or do things. Like you cant have that right now, its almost like he doesnt understand that,and keeps on and on until he gets it. Is this part of something else. Thanks!! Danelle mom of Hannah,9, Hank (apraxic) 5, and HollieBrook 3 " Keeper of the Light " *LAKE ST. CLAIR LIGHT* EST. 1941 LAKE ST. CLAIR MI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2003 Report Share Posted February 16, 2003 > Th stuttering with most apraxic kids is not actual stuttering- it is a word retrieval problem... d , Stuttering and word retrieval difficulty are different problems and do not sound alike. Children with verbal apraxia can also stutter, or they can have word retrieval difficulty, or both, or neither. I know of no research suggesting children with verbal apraxia are more likely to have word retrieval difficulty. From personal experience, some children with verbal apraxia do develop stuttering. I don't know where you got this idea, but if you have a reference, please share it. If it was something you heard from someone else or that you surmised based on the kids you know, let us know that too. Making statements like this as if they were fact can end up causing others headaches as they worry, try to find out more, and later realize the mistake. I understand that everyone here is trying to share all they can, and I don't mean to insult you in any way, . Please keep sharing. I am now back from an extended lurker mode -- I would be happy to help answer questions for anyone on this list if you direct them to me. , thanks again for this list. I see you are still going great guns!! Sincerely, Deborah van den Beemt, MS CCC-SLP in NH/VT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2003 Report Share Posted March 1, 2003 Deborah we've missed you!!! How is your book and research coming?! Thank you so much for sharing your insight on the apraxia-stuttering comments. It's an area that many professionals appear to stay clear of -and I hope due to professionals like you that this will be an area that will be more fully explored as to why and how often are there overlaps between apraxia and other communication impairments. I want to talk to you too -so let's email each other off list too! I'm going to sign off with the same quote I had on my answer back to this apraxia -stuttering post: " At least the neurological aspects of stuttering are being studied. Since apraxic children don't stutter and are instead " dysfluent " -or assumed to be " developmentally dysfluent " then lets again not pay attention to this group of children. All our children deserve a smile and a voice -and an open mind to help them get there. ===== Out Of the Box Geng President CHERAB Foundation Communication Help, Education, Research, Apraxia Base http://www.cherab.org Co Founder Speechville http://www.speechville.com 772-335-5135 " Help give our cherubs a smile and a voice " > > Th stuttering with most apraxic kids is not actual stuttering- it is a word retrieval problem... d > > , > > Stuttering and word retrieval difficulty are different problems and do not sound alike. Children with verbal apraxia can also stutter, or they can have word retrieval difficulty, or both, or neither. I know of no research suggesting children with verbal apraxia are more likely to have word retrieval difficulty. From personal experience, some children with verbal apraxia do develop stuttering. > > I don't know where you got this idea, but if you have a reference, please share it. If it was something you heard from someone else or that you surmised based on the kids you know, let us know that too. Making statements like this as if they were fact can end up causing others headaches as they worry, try to find out more, and later realize the mistake. > > I understand that everyone here is trying to share all they can, and I don't mean to insult you in any way, . Please keep sharing. > > I am now back from an extended lurker mode -- I would be happy to help answer questions for anyone on this list if you direct them to me. > > , thanks again for this list. I see you are still going great guns!! > > Sincerely, > Deborah van den Beemt, MS CCC-SLP > in NH/VT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2003 Report Share Posted March 1, 2003 I thought I should also add the archived links that led to the stuttering -apraxia discussion. I want to make it clear why I believe the " he's not stuttering he's dysfluent " and other blanket statements like that can be detrimental in regards to individuals with apraxia: First message: /message/17449 Response message to : /message/17493 ===== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.