Re: Rhythm, high-pitched voices & apraxia?

[Guest guest]

My son is 33 months old. He has a speech delay (I believe more and more it is

oral apraxia or dysarthia) and sensory integration issues. I've read from

several sources that swinging stimulates the " language centers " of the brain and

my son loves to practice his counting and alphabet as he swings back and forth.

The Out-of-Sync Child, by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. deals with sensory

integration dysfunction and page 114 talks about how these children don't talk

much or very well until that start running or swinging and then they suddenly

talk or sing. It has something to do with the vestibular system and stimulating

it enhances the ability to speak. Her book says, " SLP's report that just

putting the child in a swing during treatment can have remarkable results " . Our

speech therapist sings songs with our son too and she'll omit words in the song

and he'll fill them in, i.e. " The itsy bitsy spider went the water spout.

came the rain and ... "

As for the EFA's, I started my son on them 5 days ago and it is AMAZING how much

more he is talking! Not just more words, but 3-4 word sentences where before it

was one or two words and he is pronouncing words he could not say before. He

never could say seven and now he can, clear as a bell. Last night he said,

" Mommy, more juice. Catch! " and tossed me his sippy cup. I was speechless.

The one thing I can't stress enough is don't give up too fast. Almost

immediately after the first capsule (I give him one Pro-EFA per day squeezed in

orange juice and he drinks it no problem) his behavior went haywire. He was

screaming, throwing toys, having tantrums, cranky, etc.. I was so concerned I

thought we'd have to stop. Fortunately I posted my concerns here and got

reassuring replies to hang in there and today (day 5) is a much better day, so I

think things are settling down now. Good luck!

----- Original M essage -----

From: Amy E on

Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 11:29 AM

Subject: [ ] Rhythm, high-pitched voices & apraxia?

My 2 1/2 year old son has apraxia and recently we've noticed some things

in his speech therapy that have been helping him tremendously. If we

speak to him in a sing-song voice, he will repeat the words (cvc) almost

perfectly as opposed to being prompted in a regular voice. We've also

gotten the same type of response when he's outside on the swing; so we're

wondering if using rhythm during therapy helps make a connection somehow.

(BTW, he's also currently on 2 Pro-EFA capsules a day and we've noticed a

little improvement since we started him on it back in October.) He also

speaks with a high-pitched voice and, just out of curiosity, I was

wondering if other children with apraxia use a higher-pitched voice than

other children, or if it's just the way my speaks. Has anyone

else noticed any similarities like these?

Amy on

mom to (6yo), (4 yo w/ articulation difficulties), and

(2 yo w/ apraxia)

asthomason@...

[Guest guest]

Lindsey definitely has a high pitched voiced, and when she gets going it does

sound unusual, it is also denasal.

Jennie

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

I have seen children with apraxia of speech that speak in a high pitched voice

for new or difficult sounds or words. It is a very interesting phenomenon. I

have found no literature that speaks about it. Perhaps the effort involved in

speaking creates a kind of tension that comes out as high pitch, as if the child

has to find a " different " way of getting a word out since he/she knows it will

be difficult the usual way. By the way, I have seen this only in very bright,

young children (under 3,6) with apraxia.

I absolutely use rhythm in my therapy for childhood apraxia of speech. I have

used lots of different techniques that involve rhythm, including: tapping on a

pacing board (such as a toy xylophone), or felt squares, blocks, poker chips,

crackers, etc. etc.; clapping; beating a drum, triangle or bell; chanting;

singing; bouncing, rocking, or jumping; swinging, tapping feet on the floor,

hands on knees, or fingers together; swinging arms or twisting body; making

rhythmic marks with a marker, paintbrush, or bingo dotter; speaking with a

metronome or to instrumental music with a strong beat; and many other things

thought up at the spur of the moment. I have also used pitch changes (probably

like your sing-song voice) to highlight sounds and number of syllables.

> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 11:29:41 -0400

> From: Amy E on <Asthomason@...>

> Subject: Rhythm, high-pitched voices & apraxia?

>

> My 2 1/2 year old son has apraxia and recently we've noticed some things

> in his speech therapy that have been helping him tremendously. If we

> speak to him in a sing-song voice, he will repeat the words (cvc) almost

> perfectly as opposed to being prompted in a regular voice. We've also

> gotten the same type of response when he's outside on the swing; so we're

> wondering if using rhythm during therapy helps make a connection somehow.

> (BTW, he's also currently on 2 Pro-EFA capsules a day and we've noticed a

> little improvement since we started him on it back in October.) He also

> speaks with a high-pitched voice and, just out of curiosity, I was

> wondering if other children with apraxia use a higher-pitched voice than

> other children, or if it's just the way my speaks. Has anyone

> else noticed any similarities like these?

[Guest guest]

Connor is 3.6 (his first word was at 2.6) and he also talks in what

could be described as a high pitched voice. It is hard to describe.

It seems to be high and soft when he speaks. Its not very loud. And

he is such a HUGE kid (off the charts-over 99 percentile). He does

yell sometimes and it is way loud and not high. It is hard to

describe his voice. It is not monotone, but it also is not normal

inflection. He can only get out 2 or 3 words at a time (4 on

occasion) and if he gets out more its like he has to breath or stop

in between. " change diaper...Marjorie's poopy "

I am just racking my brain here trying to describe his voice,

though. Maybe it is like a kid who is excited when they are talking

which can be higher, but breathier than that. Maybe its like a kid

who is tired and is speaking slowly and softly. Maybe its like a

speaking softly to a baby type of voice. When you

whisper/say " goodnight I love you " to a baby. When he asks to go

potty he uses a pretty high voice. Like an " oh no " type of voice,

even though he isn't about to pee his pants or anything. I guess

that is why it is similar to a kid who is

excited/shocked/frightened. It seems to be higher and quieter the

more urgent it is or the more distressed he is. " going potty " (the

request to go potty) is usually very high and very quiet. " oh no

marjorie " (when the baby is touching his toys " is usually very high

and very quiet. When he is mad his voice is lower, I think. When I

start counting so he'll obey, he's say " No 1 " and it is not high and

not quiet and not breathy.

Wow, this is really interesting to think about. I swear that he can

only yell when he is mad. He has never yelled for help. He has

never called out to me for help. He's never yelled " mom " for me to

come. I knew he didn't ever, ever call for me, but he CAN yell when

his sister is bugging him. He just can't yell mommy when he is hurt

or needs help because he only speaks in a quiet high voice when he is

distressed--if he can get out the words at all. He says " wipe bum "

when he's done in the bathroom in the tiniest little high voice so

I'd better be right there to hear him because he's not going to say

it any louder.

Does this sound like anyone else's kid???

>