Grower up with Apraxia of Spreech

[Guest guest]

Here is a letter: Growing up with Apraxia It might need some work on

it. I'm not the best speller.

Growing up with Apraxia

By Saari

When I was a kid I never knew I had Apraxia. What I did know is

that I had a speech problem and learning disabilities. Growing Up for

Me wasn't any fun. Every day I was tease and made fun of. When I was

a kid I never talk much because of this, never join any sport or

group. Yes, I still had friend, which I knew growing up with. I

stared Preschool when I was 3 or 4yr old. This is when I starde my

speech therapy.

I don't remember much of my childhood. I shut down. I was always

in fear of being mad fun. Every time I talk I herd myself saying it

right, but the other kid hear me saying it wrong. I was never good as

the other kids and I triad so hard. I remember walking home from

school crying. The other kids always teas me. I ask myself why I was

defended, what I did to get this. I hated school for this. Every day

I knew what was going to happen at school, " yes another day of being

tease, " I said to myself. You know what I did, I was better than

every one else, " why " I never once teas or man fun of the kid who was

teasing me. So for that I never talk. I knew one day, I would change.

I was never good at Math, Reading and Spelling. Sports never even

tried. Yes, I was good playing with a coup of friend, But never good

enough to join. School wasn't the best for me. when school was out, I

had a good life. Played with my friend, had a fun time. I also spend

a lot of time alone. Even with my friend I still was different.

In a letter dating back 10/92 I was in the 4th Grade. It Say I had

been in Speech Therapy since I was 3yr old. Here is when I was

diagnosis with severe Apraxia, both verbal and nonverbal. I had poor

oral motor control and awareness, fast rate of speech. At this time I

had received 30 to 60 minutes of speech therapy. I was never told I

had Apraxia. I found out when I was 15yr old, but back to grade

school. Around the 4th and 5th grade it got a litter better, yes I

was still get teas every day, You get used to it. 6th grade me and my

young brother be gain to separate. He stared playing sports and

handing out with then. I was happy for him even stay and watch him

prates football with his other team mate. When some of the other kid

stared teasing me I would leave, Tell one day I stop coming to him

prates. My brother also stared teasing me.

In East Middle School. This is where it got bad, I was 13yr old.

Here is where I was teas all day long, and when I finally " blew up, "

but I tell you about that later. Everywhere I want someone always

calling me name. Like " Zez-woo " what I said for zero. And many more

names soon came after that. Again I want home crying everyday that

year. No one knew I had been crying when I was walking home. Now I

was readily on my own. I couldn't get away from it. From the time I

wake up and tell the time I got out of school I was being teas, even

in the class room. Yes, at fist I told my teacher, there just told me

to ignore it. You after 6yr you would think you could eknoor it, and

yes you can. But do you know what it dose to you. I know I'm doing to

tell you.

It like a blowhole, always getting bigger and bigger. You don't

know what going on you just disappear. You stop exlisten. You stop

caring. I want to school. I never talk and never listen to anyone. It

helps hoping tomorrow will be a better day. I did this every day I

want to school. Then I blew up. Didn't care who it was. It could have

been anything. Someone who teas me often. I would get in fight and

most of the time loses.

I did this often, and then I told myself " why I'm doing this, is

not me. " I slip into mine owe little world, where no one can go.

Blocking everything out, keeping what little life I had in me. The

feeling I had and was going. No one could ever felt the way I did. I

was I afraid I was doing hurt myself or someone else, it was that

bad. No one care. This is why I have made this world my mine. It was

a peace for place that I only knew about. I would slip into my world

for day at a time. I still want to class but I wasn't there. This

might have slave my life and many other if I had made this place I

cloud go anytime. I never told any about this. I never knew what it

was, or even if I was nuts or something. Well, my life did get better

and I tell you about that know.

In High School it all changes for me I was 14yr old. It took the

first year to get over all the teasing I endure. I got a job develily

paper when I was 15yr old. I save up all my money tells I could buy

my own car. I was 16 when I got my car. This gave me freedom. But the

one thing that opens my eyes was my new job. My new job was working

for K-mart. At first I was a checker, and needing a lot of help when

calling for something over the intercom. This is when I want to my

speech Therapy. I ask what I had and how do I overcome it. Went to a

good friend of mine, also a speech Therapy. With one to one therapy I

had overcome my speech. I learn how to slow my speech down and how to

fix my speech when someone couldn't understand me. By the time Jr.

Year came my speech had improve a lot. I was no long being tease

every day. My math skill had improved, but still had problem with

reading and spelling. I still never talk much in high school.

When I was 18yr old I moved out of my mom house. I was still in

high school. It was great for living alone paying for bill and rent.

I finally high school in 2001. I was 19yr old. I work for K-mart

tells I was 21. Then found a better pay job working for the state.

The new job was at MDC. What I do now is help people with

devolopmatal disables

I have been working there for over a year now. I now 22yr old my

Apraxia of Speech is now understand, but still have some problem with

speech.