Guest guest Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Sign language is a great tool. My daughter and son-in-law began using sign with Isaac at about 10 months, long before anyone suspected he might be Apraxic. When Isaac was first evaluated at 18 months, he had just started hitting himself in the face when he couldn't get his point across. The Early On coordinator suggested they teach him MORE sign to relieve frustration. It worked. Just before he started speech therapy at the age of 2.1, Isaac began the screaming tantrums and throwing himself against the wall - in frustration at not being able to communicate. Once more signs were introduced, as well as picture cues, these behaviors disappeared. As he learns to verbalize the words, signs are slowly disappearing. We (Isaac's grandparents) have also learned sign. It's so much fun conversing with this wonderful little boy and finding out just what is going on in that little head of his :-) Marti Grandma to Isaac, 2.3 years old with Apraxia trmckenna1 <trmckenna1@...> wrote: Hi Gma a: I have a 2 year old that has just started to mimic and sign his needs. He used to scream very loud if I couldn't figure out what he wanted. Sometimes he would scream just because I would tell him he couldn't have it. And there were times that I would just give him whatever he wanted so he would stop screaming. Ignoring him meant that he would get louder! It was really bad for while. Now we walk in the kitchen and he signs for drink if he is thirsty and I say drink and he tries to say drink. Have your daughter look into teaching your grandson simple signs like drink, eat, out, open, more, etc. It truly has helped my son. He is less frustrated and he tries to use them to communicate with me, and the screaming has pretty much faded away. good luck Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Marina, You are a very sensitive person. I have had problems communicating with my daughter-in-law who is still in denial about my grandson and his apraxia. I don't always do very well, and she has at times resented my knowledge (I am a retired school administrator working with special education) and this has caused much alienation. Right now we are fine, but it is always like walking on egg shells. You are right, I can see the future, and she is just working on helping Damon get over his bronchitis today and trying to be ready for Santa. Thanks for reminding me to be more sensitive in the way I phrase my concerns....Fay, Damon's grandma....he has learned to say his name, and it sort of sounds like " grandma " ....I was real excited until the therapist told me he was saying " Damon " , so he continues to call me " mom " .....which is fine with me, and he calls grandpa " Hee Haw " because he plays " horsey " with him.....What a joy he is..... [ ] Re: Screeching Child > Hi - It depends on what your grandson's issue is. If he's apraxic > (which is what I'm assuming since you're on this board and not a > regular " speech delays " board), he is unable to create words the same > way you or I can and he's likely already quite frustrated. Think > about a parapalegic - nothing is really " wrong " with the legs, it's > the nerve path which has been interrupted. And it's not laziness or > being willful, it's sheer lack of capability on the child's part. > Additionally, frustration is a HUGE issue with our kids because it can > compound the problem (think stuttering - when the person is on the > spot it's often worse - same for our kids). > > This is not to say that screeching is acceptable, but your daughter > may not know yet how to help him communicate in a more appropriate > way - and he's still VERY young (even if he's nearly 3). He could be > signing, pointing to pictures, etc.. I used to have entire > conversations with my apraxic son when he was 2 - " do you want french > toast or pancakes? Pancakes or waffles? Pancakes and maple syrup or > pancakes and blueberry syrup? " and so on. When each choice was > offered, I pointed to one of his hands and he would raise it in > answer. Did it take a long time? yes, but it also fostered some > degree of independence. > > Last word of advice here - from someone who has been there with BOTH > my boys. I know your intentions are good - you want your grandson to > grow up to be a mature, unspoiled, wonderful person. You want your > daughter to set the proper standards not only to foster that type of > behaviour in him, but also so she doesn't lose her mind in the > process. My guess is that she's devastated that he's in ST at all - > she's working on a day-by-day basis and can't quite see to tomorrow, > much less next year. If you choose to discuss this with her, please > be careful in your phrasing that it not sound like a criticism for > that will just alienate her. A simple: How can I help him let me > know what he wants? might be the best approach. You can hold up > pictures from boxes or try my " choice " conversation. Just remember > how hard all this is on both of them - and how lucky they are to have > an involved and concerned grandma! > > Marina > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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