Metabolic Testing Results of Verbal Apraxic Child&links to Heavy Metals Toxicity

[Guest guest]

I'm fairly new to this site. I have a 'just' 3 yr old son who has

recently been diagnosed by a neurologist and 2 slp's as verbal

apraxic. We have been in speech therapy for 1 yr - the week he

turned 2yrs - 1-2x's week.

I've been giving Kai pro-efa since Mid-Nov. 2003 (age 2.8yrs). We

witnessed significant speech results within 5 days (he said our

daughter's name Noah, for the 1st time. Also, " Mama, Dada, Susu "

went to " Mommy, Daddy and Susie " ). We were so impressed that we

became convinced that we needed to review the foods we were eating.

In addition, we agreed to conduct metabollic testing to specifically

obtain an understanding of the right dosage amount of EFA's for my

son. We've concluded that 2 caps of Pro-Efa is the correct amount

and we're advised to continue with the 2 caps (Kai is 3 yrs old,

weighs 46lbs, height 42 " ).

His other results include extremely low iron, ess. & non-ess. amino

acids, overgrowth of yeast, accumulated oxidative stress, and more

importantly Heavy Metals Toxicity (HMT). I've discovered that

speech disorders can be a result/symptom of HMT. All this aside, we

are currently supplementing his diet and will have him re-tested for

HMT in 6 mos time.

I was wondering if others have had their children tested for heavy

metals and of their subsequent results. Kai at birth also had

no/weak feeding we used a haberman feeder(noted in poll). In

Canada, there is no mercury in infant vaccines however I was

informed that a mother's milk can pass on mercury as a result of

having more than 1-2 dental fillings. We also live in an old house -

potential lead pipes. I know there are studies around autism and

heavy metals. I'm just wondering if there are any re: apraxia?

Sorry for this long msg - the more I write the more I think.

A curious mom,

Sharon (son kai 3yrs verbal apraxia & strabismus, Noah 6yrs nd)

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

Who did your metabolic testing? An M.D.? Naturopath? Hospital

program? I had a Naturopath (licensed in WA state) draw blood for

analysis last year. My son Ian turned 3 on 3/14 and is likely

verbally apraxic, too. The test results showed no yeast overgrowth,

low blood amino acids (low normal)and low blood sugar. With protein

supplements and chromium supps he improved greatly. Much of this

was diet related. I also added Omega 3 fatty acids (cod liver oil)

but recently switched to ProEFA with AMAZING results.

We did not go as far as testing for heavy metals. Our naturopath

wanted to do a trial of a chelation drug (DMSA) to see what metals

were dumped from Ian's body. My husband was not willing to do this

since we had no 'proof' that Ian was metal toxic. I have 2

neurotypical children (well, I assume they are!) born prior to Ian.

As far as research goes, I do know that they were unable to rule out

thimerisol's (mercury containing preservative in US vaccines)link to

speech and language disorders. In my mind, that means they should

really do some major testing to see what the effects of

environmental mercury exposure are on language development. In that

same study, they ruled out the thimerisol:Autism link.

The debate continues.

Take care and good luck on continued progress!

Pam in WA

> I'm fairly new to this site. I have a 'just' 3 yr old son who has

> recently been diagnosed by a neurologist and 2 slp's as verbal

> apraxic. We have been in speech therapy for 1 yr - the week he

> turned 2yrs - 1-2x's week.

> I've been giving Kai pro-efa since Mid-Nov. 2003 (age 2.8yrs). We

> witnessed significant speech results within 5 days (he said our

> daughter's name Noah, for the 1st time. Also, " Mama, Dada, Susu "

> went to " Mommy, Daddy and Susie " ). We were so impressed that we

> became convinced that we needed to review the foods we were

eating.

>

> In addition, we agreed to conduct metabollic testing to

specifically

> obtain an understanding of the right dosage amount of EFA's for my

> son. We've concluded that 2 caps of Pro-Efa is the correct amount

> and we're advised to continue with the 2 caps (Kai is 3 yrs old,

> weighs 46lbs, height 42 " ).

> His other results include extremely low iron, ess. & non-ess.

amino

> acids, overgrowth of yeast, accumulated oxidative stress, and more

> importantly Heavy Metals Toxicity (HMT). I've discovered that

> speech disorders can be a result/symptom of HMT. All this aside,

we

> are currently supplementing his diet and will have him re-tested

for

> HMT in 6 mos time.

> I was wondering if others have had their children tested for heavy

> metals and of their subsequent results. Kai at birth also had

> no/weak feeding we used a haberman feeder(noted in poll).

In

> Canada, there is no mercury in infant vaccines however I was

> informed that a mother's milk can pass on mercury as a result of

> having more than 1-2 dental fillings. We also live in an old

house -

> potential lead pipes. I know there are studies around autism

and

> heavy metals. I'm just wondering if there are any re: apraxia?

> Sorry for this long msg - the more I write the more I think.

> A curious mom,

> Sharon (son kai 3yrs verbal apraxia & strabismus, Noah 6yrs nd)

[Guest guest]

-There is some controversy regarding chelation therapy. A

contrasting view can be found at: www.ncahf.org

Scroll down to policy statements for view on chelation therapy.

I don't know who is right or wrong, but people should know there are

differing views on its effectiveness, and then determine whether it

is right for them.

-- In , " noaholiviaian "

<p.haselow@c...> wrote:

> Hi Sharon,

>

> Who did your metabolic testing? An M.D.? Naturopath? Hospital

> program? I had a Naturopath (licensed in WA state) draw blood for

> analysis last year. My son Ian turned 3 on 3/14 and is likely

> verbally apraxic, too. The test results showed no yeast

overgrowth,

> low blood amino acids (low normal)and low blood sugar. With

protein

> supplements and chromium supps he improved greatly. Much of this

> was diet related. I also added Omega 3 fatty acids (cod liver oil)

> but recently switched to ProEFA with AMAZING results.

>

> We did not go as far as testing for heavy metals. Our naturopath

> wanted to do a trial of a chelation drug (DMSA) to see what metals

> were dumped from Ian's body. My husband was not willing to do this

> since we had no 'proof' that Ian was metal toxic. I have 2

> neurotypical children (well, I assume they are!) born prior to

Ian.

>

> As far as research goes, I do know that they were unable to rule

out

> thimerisol's (mercury containing preservative in US vaccines)link

to

> speech and language disorders. In my mind, that means they should

> really do some major testing to see what the effects of

> environmental mercury exposure are on language development. In

that

> same study, they ruled out the thimerisol:Autism link.

>

> The debate continues.

>

> Take care and good luck on continued progress!

>

> Pam in WA

[Guest guest]

You are so correct. We opted out of the DMSA trial because of the

risk of horrible side effects. Although the drug has been around

for decades, to use it " just to see " wasn't safe enough for us.

There are natural chelators, also. I think cilantro. Also, vitamin

C.

Pam

--- In , " fopt " <fopt65@a...>

wrote:

> -There is some controversy regarding chelation therapy. A

> contrasting view can be found at: http://www.ncahf.org

>

> Scroll down to policy statements for view on chelation therapy.

> I don't know who is right or wrong, but people should know there

are

> differing views on its effectiveness, and then determine whether

it

> is right for them.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The rule of thumb I follow is that I'll try alternative

therapies/strategies to compliment traditional therapies that might

help, but that are benign. Cranial sacral therapy and EFAs for

example but not in that order necessarily.

We've never tried chelation for Tanner because it is not

benign. " Chelation therapy, which could take up to two years, does

have risks (eg liver damage... " )

http://www.teacch.com/treatmnt.htm

Today -Tanner is doing so well!

http://www.cherab.org/information/familiesrelate/letter.html

About the blood test question and EFAs...

archive:

I'm not positive that blood testing is accurate for what we want to

know about EFAs just yet based on neurodevelopmental reports. We

for one want to know how it's helping -is it passing the blood brain

barrier -and how.

I know for a fact that the success rate has only been around 50% for

the kids in our group with blood analysis -while just supplementing

with the " right " EFA formula -it was cheaper and easier and worked

for almost all in a day to three weeks. Also because you are using

so many other supplements -it's hard to say what is working and why

which is why I for one like to keep it simple to start and work up

so I know for each of my kids what is good and bad for them. Both

of my boys are on the EFAs -ProEFA and ProEPA -but only Tanner is on

the carnosine and/or carn aware.

However in saying all that -CONGRATULATIONS on the surge no matter

what it's from.

If you want to know if the EFAs were to thank -stop them 100% for a

few weeks to a month or so -and then start them again.

That's the only way I know for sure to know what is working until

the technology catches up and surpasses this. Right now -

observations are far more accurate than blood testing for EFAs.

If EFAs do not " work " I would 'then' go the blood analysis route.

Dr. AJ from the UK agreed with me when I met her (when

she presented at the First Apraxia Conference

http://www.cherab.org/news/scientific.html ) that unless your child

is involved in research, or has fish allergies or some unusual

situation going on medically- there is no reason to do blood

analysis first. As Nike says - " just do it " I always say to check

with your child's MD first -in many more cases today you will not

have to bring information and explain why. Especially with the

better neurodevelopmental MDs.

As a group we found the blood tests to be expensive -and not always

necessary -or even accurate. I believe just because it's in the

blood does not mean it's in the brain where it's needed (and this is

why we need the GLA -for the anti inflammatory properties) And the

one case is reported below.

Research I am sure will prove that the right formula of EFAs does

pass the blood

brain barrier (BBB).

http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/5/678#otherarticles

A recent Japanese study, published in the journal Mechanisms of Aging and

Development, makes the point. Scientists fed mice a diet of 5% sardine oil.

After 12 months, the mice were able to navigate mazes much faster than were mice

eating a diet containing 5% palm oil. And when their brains were later analyzed,

those mice consuming sardine oil had much higher levels of DHA than the others.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/htdocs/prod/PTOArticle/PTO-20010301-000037.ASP

There is much on this debate in the archives -here is just a bit:

" I notice you recommend a particular lab for blood analysis in many

emails. We have found as a group that without any blood testing -

almost all of us that have children with multi faceted communication

impairments have found dramatic positive changes in our children on

the right formula of Omega 3 and 6 with appropriate speech and

occupational therapy as well as with other multisensory therapies.

One researcher told us that unless you are involved in research -

there is no reason for blood analysis before EFA supplementation -

it's benign and in many cases helps.

Why don't we stand behind blood analysis as a group?

In our group we have found blood work results to mean very little -

the expense high -and the recommended dosages of a hodge podge

mixture of supplements recommended based on the blood results to be

confusing and expensive even if they were not at all dangerous

(which I'm not sure). As posted here -one parent stopped using an

Omega 3-6 oil that was helping her child based on the blood work

that said her child's DHA level was high. Her child regressed on

the new mixture and then once again surged when she put her child

back on the Omega 3-6 mixture in spite of the blood results.

I also know a neurodevelopmental pediatrician who 'used' to

recommend blood analysis -until she found it only had a 50% success

rate with the children, while those parents skipped the blood work

(most in our group) and just followed the therapy - EFA track had

around a 90% success rate with or without any other supplements or

diet changes. "

This is the parent (our former VP) who left CHERAB to attend medical

school to become a neurodevelopmental MD due to her child's success

on the EFAs, and the lack of answers why blood analysis proved to be

inaccurate for her daughter . (I was supposed to meet Suzanne

and family over at Disney before tomorrow when they are leaving -so

if anyone wants to email her she will be home later this week!)

From: Suzanne Smolyar

Date: Wed Mar 21, 2001 2:36 pm

Subject: RE: [ ] progress

Hi Gloria,

I wanted to say that I know exactly how you feel. Last night at the

table, 's brother (Ari 6.8) began to speak while was

trying to say something, so she looked at Ari and said in a loud and

affirmative tone " Shut up Ari, Shut up " . We were so excited and

overjoyed at her using that phrase - we forgot to explain to her

that it was inappropriate to use at the table and to her family

members. We just thought it was golden -just like you did.

Here is some background from one of my previous posts that will tell

you why this is so exciting .

" I am a mother of a beautiful 5-year-old girl, . Since the

time she was about 11 mo old - I had a feeling that something was

wrong with fine motor, gross motor and of course speech. Through

the past 4 years, I have gone to numerous neurologists, best in the

field, I must add. We have gone non-stop to therapy with ,

but the progress was painfully slow. did not speak- making

it nearly impossible for us to communicate with her. Everyday at

night I would kiss , and standing over her head I would

say, " please start talking tomorrow " - subliminal messages - hoping

they'd work.

To no avail, my child was just not talking. Therapy helped, but

progress was limited. I don't want to continue with this sob-story,

as you probably all understand the fear and frustration in parents

and the child as well.

After becoming involved with