Apraxia Speech & Omega 3's/Fish Oils/Choromega

[Guest guest]

I have a 3.5 yr. old son with speech apraxia. He is highly intelligent.

Comprehension above normal, tested. His speech is very minimal, app.

30 words and not nearly understanable to a stanger. He is therapy 2/3

a week. I have

read that adding Omega 3's to his diet may help with the development

of the fibers within the brain to help the connection of his thoughts

and being able to communicate.

Any insight would be great.

Also, any advice for working with him @ home, without him knowing it,

ex. clamming up!

Sorry I forget the medical term for the fibers in our brains at this

moment.

Sincerely,

Rob Colliver

[Guest guest]

Dear Rob,

When I joined this website last November, as a parent with a child newly

diagnosed with apraxia, there was alot of info going around about

supplementation with the Omega3/Omega 6 fatty acids. A great number of people,

including

[Guest guest]

HI

There is a book you may have heard of THE LATE TALKER. Authors Marilyn C. Agin,

[Guest guest]

Hi Rob!

I'm a toy inventor by trade -so as far as things to do at home to

help your child without having them clam up? That's my specialty!

You can check the archives here -or easier yet -there is much

of " things to do at home to help " in The Late Talker book, which I

co authored with neurodevelopmental pediatrician/Medical Director of

NYC Early Intervention Marilyn Agin MD, and international journalist

Malcolm Nicholl.

http://www.speech-express.com/latetalkerrelease.html

(The paperback is out now -and there's a bit more in that one!)

As far as EFAs -wow now that's a hard one to answer in a sentence or

two -so if you don't have a minute to read -then just save for later

or delete. But main point -it's 'not just' Omega 3's that are

important -it needs to be an Omega 3/6 formula. Coromega is a great

formula -but it's a pure Omega 3. Then again if you are going to

use pure Omega 3 it's a better formula in that it's high in EPA

which we know is also important. May not all be in here -but here

is some history:

http://www.cherab.org/information/historyEFA.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Warning -Beginning of long message!

Rob -When you say " fibers " do you mean instead myelin? I've for

years posted about the possibility of EFAs helping with

remyelinazation.

My original post about this three + years ago was that our children don't

have, thank goodness, a degenerative disorder of the myelin -such as

what Lorenzo has/what the movie Lorenzo's oil is about, but a subtle

delay in myelinazation due to environmental factors more than

genetic -even though both probably play a part. After all -most of

our members who have children with speech impairments today are not

from families where speech problems run in the family at all.

As an inventor by trade I knew that if a particular formula of EFAs

creates surges in our children in a day to three weeks almost across

the board -there is a reason why. EFAs have strong remyelinating

properties, among other great things they do for us. After watching

the movie Lorenzo's Oil and seeing the very early stages of

regression I questioned Dr. Agin and other MDs and here " perhaps the

MRI is not sophisticated enough of a technology to show subtle

delays in the myelin -but that's what's going on? " So not

a " disorder " of the myelin -but a " delay " ?

After I posted this here, I was called into University of Medicine and

Dentistry (UMDNJ) by their attorney Fred Kipperman to do a

presentation of my theory to the neurodevelopmental MDs there.

(apparently one of the researchers through there read my post here)

As it ends up one of the MDs was pediatric neurologist Xue Ming MD

PhD who had studied under Dr. Hugo Moser. Dr. Moser is the doctor who led the

clinical trials for Lorenzo's oil -and the key note speaker at the

First Apraxia Conference hosted by CHERAB in 2001

http://www.cherab.org/news/scientific.html

http://www.cherab.org/information/dietaryeffects/Englemed.html

I know at least one parent through this group who is quite happy

with Dr. Ming as her child's neuroMD -Caroline IlGrande (Caroline

please feel free to jump in) When I presented at UMDNJ the MRI is perhaps not

sophisticated enough a technology to show subtle delays in the myelin, none

of the MDs said a word. But months later Caroline told me that Dr.

Ming told her that most of the children today they see with apraxia

and other multifaceted neurologically based communication

impairments like it at UMDNJ appear to have subtle delays in the myelin that

don't always show up in MRIs -but that show up in the lab. We tried

to get a quote about this for The Late Talker book -but guess there

will be no news for months or years to help the children until it's

written up in a clinical paper. That's why as parents don't wait -

look outside the box for research and answers to help today.

It's a long story how I came up with this EFA/myelin theory, but the

main point is that probably while pregnant -toxins existing in soil,

etc. such as " Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs,

phenol, cadmium, chromium and lead " (right where I used to live also

known as " why we moved to Florida "

http://www.thnt.com/thnt/story/0,21282,596491,00.html )are crossing

the placenta of the moms and are delaying the myelinazation of the

infants. This would also explain the " pocket " areas where we have

much larger amounts of affected children -like New Jersey, Ohio,

Texas, the Carolinas, California...

Here is an archive on this:

" I've had many conversations both on and off list about this -and

again...I don't think our kids fit into any one box. I really

believe that 'most' of our kids have something new -or a mutated

version of what was around before. There has been a dramatic rise

in our type of children -so the question is...why?

When I heard about -I didn't just cry for -I cried

because of -and I cried because I'm not sure what is going on

with any of our children and why they have these similar problems,

and why it's not researched and documented.

When I wrote Canaries in the coal mine I put a quote in there about

this " black ooze " that was rising from the soil of a stream in a

park that is now closed. Heard the black ooze still is rising and is

between one and four feet deep, nobody yet that lives in the area

knows for 'sure' what it's from - in a town not far from where we

lived...just one of many areas of Jersey where we had a pocket of

apraxic children.

The ooze was " Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs,

phenol, cadmium, chromium and lead " " They're (the substances) all

bad. I wouldn't choose to live there. I wouldn't choose to interact

there if I had a choice, " said Buckley, executive director of

the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, part

of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry

in Newark.

" This is not a healthy place for kids to play. There's no doubt

about it, " said Buckley, who recommended examining and monitoring

some children for any effects. "

http://www.thnt.com/thnt/story/0,21282,596491,00.html

" Examining and monitoring our kids " ?!! Try they basically told us

to not put away the kites and balls and " come on down " to play some

more! (read below) They downplayed (and in spite of their lame

attempt to do so -this was never picked up by any large media who

won't be bullied -like Time) by saying the park was " only " closed

due to " high levels of asbestos " ...actually in the new article the

correct phrase is " Chunks of exposed asbestos " 10-12 feet high. The

first article I read -which was pretty much right before we moved -

was about dead birds found in the black ooze and how town officials

said " they didn't believe it (the ooze) was harmful " and I wrote

here " oh yeah it's every day that when a bird is ready to die they

fly around looking for some black ooze to drop dead in "

The town?...is the town we lived 10 minutes from. The town that

just moved from. The town that little grew up in. As

said to me today - " it was all around me " .

Why didn't we know..well when the birds were found dead there were

spin articles like this

" PMK will probably recommend removal of the black substance and

asbestos tiles and other remediation measures, ston told the

Borough Council.

ston gave the council an update yesterday on what his company is

doing and what it has found so far. Among the results:

The black ooze, which so far has mystified environmental officials,

is as shallow as six inches and as deep as four feet in different

parts of the park. An area found to contain " marginally high "

concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is an anomaly,

ston said, and does not pose a substantial health hazard.

While they do not know what the black substance is, tests have

determined that it is not hazardous waste.

A large quantity of stacked asbestos tiles extends underground about

10 feet to 12 feet into the park from the banks of the Bound Brook.

The park was closed in mid-July after Spiegel, president of

the Edison Wetlands Association, a nonprofit environmental group,

discovered the asbestos. The federal Environmental Protection Agency

told borough officials about the black substance late last year.

Although tests determined there was no imminent health hazard, the

borough decided to ask PMK Group to investigate and create a cleanup

plan. "

http://www.gsenet.org/library/11gsn/2002/gs020812.php

And even though the ooze is still there -are they warning any

parents today? Well let's just check more recent articles from the

area and see what they have to say:

" It's a clean, safe community that offers them everything that young

families need, " says English, a lifelong resident who has been

director for four years. " It's one of the reasons why people stay

here. "

The parks vary in size, from Willow Skate Park, the smallest at 2.18

acres, to Veterans Park, the largest with more than 30 acres.

But Veterans has been closed since last summer after officials began

investigating the discovery of asbestos tiles and a mysterious black

ooze surfacing at the park.

Borough officials, who have submitted a cleanup plan to the state

Department of Environmental Protection for its approval, hope to

open the park by the end of spring.

Because Veterans Park has the largest ball field, English had to

reduce the number of adult male teams in the softball league last

year, a popular activity among residents, he says.

But removing possibly hazardous materials is not the only work being

done at borough parks.

Putnam Park is the midst of a complete renovation, with the first

phase of the project to be completed by March.

The project will be adding a jogging path, off-site parking and a

volleyball court, English says. "

http://www.c-n.com/c-n/artman/publish/article_64.shtml

" clean, safe community " in one line and " mysterious black ooze " in

the next. (spin way to say " " Concentrations of polychlorinated

biphenyls, or PCBs, phenol, cadmium, chromium and lead rising out of

the water for some unknown reason and killing local wildlife " )

The way it's written now it's " ooohhh -let's pack a lunch and take

the kids to see the " mysterious black ooze "

Well pretty soon you will be able to do just this!

" In 60 days, our park will be reopened, our children will be back

playing, " Mayor Dan Gallagher said after the borough got $250,000

from the state Department of Environmental Protection last month. "

Oh -and the " not toxic " part they tried to tell us when they lied, I

mean spinned... "

" Used as a coolant in electrical equipment, PCBs have been linked to

cancer and developmental disabilities. Cornell-Dubilier, a former

electronics plant, has the highest concentrations of PCBs of any

site in New Jersey, according to state and federal environmental

officials.

While PCBs usually are immobile in soil, those at Cornell-Dubilier

have been dissolved by other chemicals dumped there and are

pervasive in soil, groundwater and dust. "

http://sierraactivist.org/article.php?sid=33550

One of the substances found in the oozing toxins was phenol. In

medicine -they use a phenol block to basically create an apraxic

situation -a motor planning block that strips the myelin. EFAs have

remyelinating properties...is this one possible reason why they

work? Since the mixture of chemicals changed the PCBs...it's

logical to ask -what did the mixture do to the lead, or phenol...or

the other toxins? (don't put turtles down the sewer in Jersey to

try to make Ninja Turtles -that is just a cartoon)

I'm not writing this to scare anyone...just be aware that there

could be more than meets the eye not just in diagnosis -but for

cause -and treatment. Watch for spin -and research. There is a

rise in our kids -and we don't know why -and nobody knows for sure.

We have found as a group that like Gin said -multisensory works -out

of the box works. (and starting 'most' of our kids in kindergarten

at 6)

Toxins do change the body -and our kids may present as having this

diagnosis or that...but years ago I bet they didn't have the exact

mixture of toxins -and the amount -they have today.

This is why I hope that the diagnosis for is wrong -just like

some have been wrong for other points I've raised in the past. I'm

not looking to be a rebel to disagree -I just see things different

at times and as an inventor my mind just goes.

And I hope now you all know why hearing about poor little

...one child...is praying for one child that could represent

hundreds more. It's for all the canaries in the coal mine - our

children who don't have a voice for themselves.

http://www.cherab.org/news/Save.html "

/message/26410

And just in case you wanted this to be longer -more archives!

Below is a new member archived message, and an " EFA 101 basics "

archived message to hopefully answer more of your

questions for now (did you read The Late Talker yet?)

What type of apraxic like speech behaviors are you seeing that makes

you and the SLP suspect your child has apraxia vs. a simple delay in

speech? Is your child talking at all yet? At your child's age -

without speech, it's difficult to diagnose verbal apraxia -they

could " suspect " verbal apraxia and begin treatment just in case,

which wouldn't hurt your child if he ended up just having a simple

delay. Just a few questions before we could provide more accurate

answers:

Does your child have signs of oral apraxia? (for example, can he on

command smile, imitate funny faces, blow bubbles...if you put peanut

butter anywhere around his mouth can he lick it off no matter where

it is?)

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/oralapraxia.html

Does your child have any neurological " soft signs " such as hypotonia

or sensory integration dysfunction?

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/parentfriendlysoftsigns.html

Who else evaluated your child? Was it only the SLP through your

town school or was he also in Early Intervention through the state?

(birth to three) Was he evaluated by both a speech pathologist as

well as an occupational therapist? Was/were they knowledgeable

about apraxia? (If your child wasn't diagnosed by an occupational

therapist as well and professionals suspect apraxia -I highly

recommend you request that too either through both the school as

well as private through insurance for many reasons)

To answer any questions you may have about taking your child to see a

neurodevelopmental MD if he has not yet been to one and apraxia is

suspected... in one word - " Yes!!! " I would have your child diagnosed

(private) by a neurodevelopmental medical doctor (developmental

pediatrician or pediatric neurologist) who is knowledgeable about

apraxia and other neurologically based multi-faceted communication

impairments for numerous reasons. Reasons include (but not limited

to)

*having a " hero " on the outside of the school who can assist in a

therapeutic plan and oversee your child's development over the years

*advocacy support with the insurance company

* ruling out or confirming any neurological soft signs or any other

reasons for the delay in speech

*help those that ask " why isn't he talking yet " understand this is a

medical condition -and has nothing to do with your child's cognitive

ability. (if in your child's case it doesn't. Apraxia in itself

does not affect a child's cognitive ability -and speaking early or

late is no indication of a child's intelligence. Also contrary to

popular belief -most who have speech impairments have average to

above average intelligence)

I would also have at least one private " out of pocket " (if possible)

exam with a knowledgeable speech pathologist as well. This SLP can

coordinate with your child's MD, and school therapist and other

professionals, and again be there to assist in a therapeutic plan,

help set goals and oversee your child's development over the years

if needed.

Networking with parents of other speech-impaired children is also

possibly one of the best moves you could make in your child's

recovery. Others will steer you to the " right " professionals and

programs in your area -and you won't feel so alone. I would HIGHLY

recommend joining a whose goal is to unite parents and

professionals. This group

/ is through CHERAB

http://www.cherab.org

The speechville website also has message boards so that you can talk

to other parents on particular topics.

http://www.speech-express.com/boards/

Check your state resources at Speechville to find local support

groups and resources.

http://www.speech-express.com/regional-resources.html

http://www.speech-express.com/communication-station/regional-support-

groups.html

(BTW -for anyone who is either running or starting a support group -

due to The Late Talker book and the many who will see your group,

please make sure your info is up at this website and accurate)

For all your other questions including what type of testing -just

read " The Late Talker " . (Nike said 'Just Do It!' -I say 'Just Read

It!') At Amazon.com you can even start today and read sample pages

of the book online!

" The first book to show parents how to tell whether a child has a

speech

delay -or a more serious speech disorder

Every parent eagerly awaits the day his or her child will speak for

the fist

time. For millions of mothers and fathers, however, anticipation

turns to

anxiety when those initial, all-important words are a long time

coming. Many

worried parents are reassured that their child is " just a late

talker, " but

unfortunately, that is not always the case. Co-author