? - Re: ABA with apraxia ? you guys are asking this again?!!

[Guest guest]

I think the whole point is that with apraxia it wasn't a matter of a

behavior problem, it was a real physical problem.

Right after this, the private SLP started teaching simple signs

to communicate. was more than willing to use the signs.

I think that is the point that is trying to make is that with

apraxia we are dealing with real physical problems and not behavior

problems. When our kids with apraxia are shown how to communicate (by

talking, sign language, pecs), then the negative behavior goes away.

>

> You know, this is one reason I wish SLP's would school themselves in

> behavioral approaches, because the knowledgeable SLP will understand

that

> the child with apraxia is TRYING to speak, but will have differing

degrees

> of success. The behaviorist thinks that, if the motivation is high

enough,

> the child should be able to speak. But the SLP must capitalize on

> reinforcement and motivational factors. By this, I mean that the early

> learner should be reinforced often and well for effort. When we

started,

> our son was reinforced every three to five responses - even if those

> responses were less than stellar. Many professionals I meet want to

give the

> child a sticker at the end of a 45-minute session and consider him

> " rewarded " .

>

> In the case below, where the child wasn't given lunch until she

asked for

> help, I think that is unconscionable! A good behaviorist would

prompt the

> child, and help them to ask. The child would never be left to

independently

> request something until they were completely competent at it. But,

there

> are poor behaviorists, too. In fact, there are surely more bad ABA

> providers than poor SLP's. How sad for our little children that

there are

> so few truly excellent practitioners out there.

>

>

>

> [ ] ? - Re: ABA with apraxia ? you

guys are

> asking this again?!!

>

>

>

>

> Hey ,

>

> You said:

>

> " When Tanner was three the school tried to force

> > him to talk because he said a word once -and not again. Well that's

> > a sign of apraxia. And to let all the other children have a bagel

> > for a snack until he said the word again, and to ignore his

> > crying...don't get me started. "

>

> That's what 's special ed preschool did to her, except it was

> lunchtime. They told me to pack a lunch that was too hard for her to

> open, and then they wouldn't help her unless she asked for it.

>

> They also told me that they thought she was a selective mute.

>

> She had meltdowns at the school and at home. We kept her there for 3

> months, and finally pulled her out. We had found a great private SLP

> who really pointed us in the correct direction on therapy, and we

> finally had an MRI that showed that she had brain damage.

>

> 's behavior got so much worse while she was in that class, and

> she went backward on her speech.

>

> 's behavior problems started getting better with increased

> communication skills. She was just frustrated.

>

> During therapy, the main behavior problem was avoiding speech. The

> good SLPs really have known how to engage . Of course there are

> poor SLPs and we have seen a few of those.

>

> I can't imagine doing well in what I've read about ABA. I could

> just see her getting frustrated.

>

> Of course, I can say all of this in hindsight. When we were in the

> beginning of all of this it was hard to know what was right or wrong.

>

> I always say to trust your instincts. When I didn't we had bad

> experiences.