Inspiring words- Oral Apraxia by Sara

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Would like to share this encouraging article in dealing

with Apraxia by Sara .

Wishing all a Happy New Year!

Mustafa

Oral Apraxia

by Sara

http://www.mare.org

" I am frequently asked about my speech impairment. “Why do

you talk so funny?” or “Is there something wrong with you?”

are the two most frequently asked questions. Most (if not

all) of the people who ask me those questions have likely

never heard of Oral Apraxia - the disorder which I have

coped with for my entire life. I’m sure that most people

reading this article are unfamiliar with Oral Apraxia as

well. So when I was asked to write an article for

Recruitment News, I asked if I could pick the subject. When

the answer was “yes,” I knew exactly what I was going to

write the article about. It is my hope to educate people

about Oral Apraxia, and to provide information that could

help readers notice any signs or symptoms of the disorder

in the children with whom they work.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) does not

have Oral Apraxia or Apraxia as part of their lists of

diagnoses; however, definitions and other information can

be found on various web sites and in other information on

the Internet. R. Kaufman, M.A., CCC/SLP states that

“Apraxia of speech (Oral Apraxia) is a motor-speech

programming disorder resulting in difficulty coordinating

the oral-motor movements necessary to produce and combine

speech sounds (phonemes) to form syllables, words, phrases

and sentences. Oral-motor weakness may coexist but must not

be a primary concern.” Kaufman, founder of the Kaufman

Children’s Center for Speech, Language, and Sensory

Disorders, Inc. (KCC) in West Bloomfield, MI, goes on to

list several signs and symptoms for parents and

professionals to aid them in the early detection of Oral

Apraxia in children. The symptoms can include:

Lack of cooing or babbling as an infant, first words may

not appear at all, pointing and “grunting” may be all that

is heard. Delayed first words with many phonemes deleted or

replaced with other (easier) phonemes.

Lack of a significant consonant repertoire: child may only

be able to use b, m, p, t, d, h. All phonemes may be

imitated well in isolation but any attempts to combine

phonemes are unsuccessful. Words may be simplified by

deleting consonants or vowels, and/or replacing difficult

phonemes with easier ones. A syllable is favored, and used

for all words. A word (may be a real word or a nonsensical

utterance) is used to convey other words. Single words may

be articulated well, but attempts at further sentence

length becomes unintelligible. Oral scanning or groping may

occur with attempts at speaking. A whole phrase may be

clearly said and never heard again, or cannot be imitated.

Other fine-motor problems may be present. Verbal

preservation: getting “stuck” on a previously uttered word,

or bringing oral-motor elements from a previous word into

the next word uttered. Observing these signs and symptoms

in young children who are learning to talk may indicate

that Oral Apraxia is present. Early detection is critical

in order to begin treatment which can offer the child the

greatest chance for success. While it is important to note

that Oral Apraxia is a disorder that can not be “cured,”

appropriate treatment significantly increases the

likelihood that the child can become an effective oral

communicator in the future.

Therapy for Oral Apraxia is strongly encouraged! People

with Apraxia may be able to strengthen their speech

dramatically, just as I have been able to do after years of

therapy. Suzanne Rao, a Speech and Language Pathologist at

the ACHIEVE Speech Language & Learning Clinic in British

Columbia, Canada offers the following suggestions regarding

therapy / treatment for Oral Apraxia:

Frequency, type, and consistency of intervention are

important. Divide the larger (long-term) goals into smaller

(short-term) steps that are concrete and measurable so that

a child can see his or her progress along with the

caregivers. Help the child develop a positive self-image

about himself/herself as a communicator. If the apraxia is

profound and intelligibility is poor, introduce

augmentative communication (sign language, communication

boards) as a bridge for oral communication. Teach pacing,

e.g. a slower and more rhythmic rate of speech Teach early

developing and frequently occurring consonants first. Teach

oral motor awareness. Associate tactile and visual symbols

with sounds. Practice the sounds in the context of

frequently occurring words and vocabulary relevant to the

child’s daily life. Multisyllabic words need to be taught,

using pacing and tactile cues. Speech can improve

dramatically in children with the help of a good speech

therapist who is knowledgeable about oral apraxia. Having

the guidance of a qualified speech therapist is one of the

best tools with which to address this disorder.

As for my own personal experience with this disorder, it

has made me the person that I am today. I have known from

the time that I could comprehend that I have this disorder.

For nearly eighteen years I have participated in speech

therapy in various hospitals, through the public school

system, and with therapists in private practice. Oral

Apraxia has brought me a great deal of emotional pain

throughout my life. I was often teased by my peers from the

time I was in the sixth grade until I graduated high

school. The pain of not being “popular” or “cool” hurt

deeply. I didn’t see myself as “bad” or “strange.” And I

did not understand that my peers were simply immature for

not trying to understand me and not wanting to know more

about Oral Apraxia. Relationships with peers and

maintaining self-esteem are significant issues for a child

with this disorder. Parents should be aware of this and

must find support systems - both professional and on a peer

level for a child, with this disorder. It is so important

for parents to comfort their child if he or she is having

difficulties with peers. Make sure that the child knows

that they are loved, respected, and cared for in spite of

the disorder, and that they do not have this disorder

because they are “bad” or did something wrong.

Oral Apraxia is a disorder, and though it can not be cured,

the condition can be significantly improved with a great

deal of consistent therapy. While parents should be

prepared for the trials ahead, they should also be proud of

who their child is. Patience, love, and support are the

three things that are needed to raise a child with Oral

Apraxia. I’m sure readers of this newsletter have that in

their heart already!

Sara is a student intern at MARE and is also an

adoptee. She is completing a Bachelor of Social Work degree

at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI. "