Re: new member, 15mo w/ dyspraxia

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi,

> My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I

just

> joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil messages.

Our

> neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would it

be

> safe for my baby or should he be older?

> Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started

last

> week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on

verbal

> skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him.

Sorry

> for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does not

have

> anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby

and I

> can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural

sounds

> and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants. (doesn't

help

> that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> appreciated

> thanks

> Carolyn

>

Hi Carolyn,

My daughter has dyspraxia.Shes 7 now and is on yr 1 1/2 of learning

signs. If i would have know about that earlier i would have had her

learn it along time ago. I can understand what she says now, and

they work with her sounds too. She would get so upset cause we

couldn't understand her. Now that we are learning it too, its so

much better. You have the right to have someone come out to your

house and teach her, i didnt know about half the options when she

was younger. And if you go through BCMH(thats what it is here) they

pay for everything. She gets so excited when she learns a new word.

Now the fish oils i don't know. I'm still waiting on a response on

that myself. I think I will try anything to help her. She also has

Galactosemia--can't have alot of foods, no milk products and lots

more. Thats how she got it(dyspraxia). I hope i was of some help---

Angie

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My daughter is diagnosed with the same things Aidan has been diagnosed

with.She's 3 yrs 4 mos and when she aged out of EI her new SLP in school did

not teach sign and sign was not encouraged .I saw my daughter regress. I

discontinued ST in school and was able to continue at home with the same SLP

that she had in EI. is back on track...gesturing and making a verbal

attempts with the gestures .All therapy must be individualized. I'm a firm

believer in signing/gesturing.It empowers the nonverbal child-decreases

frustration. It gives them a way to communicate and helps with motor

planning.I have never heard from an SLP or anyone that it interferes with a

childs ability to verbally communicate.If anyone has heard any negative

views on signing please let me know.I see it working for ...there is

less pressure on her to talk and therefore less conscious when making those

verbal attempts and at this age I know she is aware of the apraxia. The fact

that she is more vocal when she signs tells me it's right for her.She's also

on Pro-Efa (3/4 tsp).I read LCP Solutions and other studies and put her on

it myself.I don't think that there are very many MDs that will recommend

it-I'm not sure why ...probably not enough scientific evidence that it works

but if you read LCP Solutions you'd probably be inclined to start everyone

in your family on it too.NordicNaturals Pro-EFA is third party tested for

heavy metals so I use that one.You can call them-they're very helpful.Good

Luck.Hope everything works out.

Elaine

PS Exercises like blowing bubbles,whistles,musical instruments

-haarmonica,horn etc guitar,accordian for motor skills, frozen teething

toys,lots of gross motor toys . I don't geet too structured with it-we just

work it in whenever we can.

On 4/9/06 11:36 PM, " ckptry " <ckptry@...> wrote:

> Hi,

> My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I just

> joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil messages. Our

> neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would it be

> safe for my baby or should he be older?

> Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started last

> week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on verbal

> skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him. Sorry

> for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does not have

> anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby and I

> can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural sounds

> and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants. (doesn't help

> that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> appreciated

> thanks

> Carolyn

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am just as new at this, so can't help much about what to expect, but I can

refer you to the book " THE LATE TALKER " By Dr. Marilyn Agin. If you can make an

appointment to meet with her or her partner. We are meeting with them at the

end of this month.

I just ordered the fish oil, but she recommends this highly!

Good luck

Annette

angie <fortasiastar@...> wrote:

>

> Hi,

> My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I

just

> joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil messages.

Our

> neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would it

be

> safe for my baby or should he be older?

> Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started

last

> week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on

verbal

> skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him.

Sorry

> for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does not

have

> anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby

and I

> can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural

sounds

> and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants. (doesn't

help

> that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> appreciated

> thanks

> Carolyn

>

Hi Carolyn,

My daughter has dyspraxia.Shes 7 now and is on yr 1 1/2 of learning

signs. If i would have know about that earlier i would have had her

learn it along time ago. I can understand what she says now, and

they work with her sounds too. She would get so upset cause we

couldn't understand her. Now that we are learning it too, its so

much better. You have the right to have someone come out to your

house and teach her, i didnt know about half the options when she

was younger. And if you go through BCMH(thats what it is here) they

pay for everything. She gets so excited when she learns a new word.

Now the fish oils i don't know. I'm still waiting on a response on

that myself. I think I will try anything to help her. She also has

Galactosemia--can't have alot of foods, no milk products and lots

more. Thats how she got it(dyspraxia). I hope i was of some help---

Angie

[Guest guest]

Hi there Carolyn,

I have one (well two) words for you. " Signing Time! " My son LOVES his

signing times videos. Started watching them when he was 2, and he still

watches them at age 5. These taught him signs when we could not! I think

signs are terribly important-my son is able to communicate because of those.

As he gets words, he stops using the signs, so they never " replace " verbal

skills. If anything, they encourage communication and make them want to

speak as well! You can get the videos at the signing time website or ebay.

Jackie, mom of Lucas, age 5

On 4/9/06 11:36 PM, " ckptry " <ckptry@...> wrote:

> Hi,

> My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I just

> joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil messages. Our

> neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would it be

> safe for my baby or should he be older?

> Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started last

> week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on verbal

> skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him. Sorry

> for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does not have

> anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby and I

> can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural sounds

> and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants. (doesn't help

> that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> appreciated

> thanks

> Carolyn

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

The thing about the signs for your son is that his global dyspraxia

may make it even harder to sign than to talk. I'd definitely give

it a shot, but if he gets really frustrated I'd consider doing

something else like a PECS system. My daughter liked the big motion

signs but had a really hard time doing anything that required finger

coordination. So we taught her a few signs to ease frustration and

luckily her speech started to come along soon afterwards.

Whatever he takes to is what you want to go with!

Kerri

>

> > Hi,

> > My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I

just

> > joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil

messages. Our

> > neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would

it be

> > safe for my baby or should he be older?

> > Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started

last

> > week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> > signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on

verbal

> > skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him.

Sorry

> > for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does

not have

> > anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby

and I

> > can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural

sounds

> > and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants.

(doesn't help

> > that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> > appreciated

> > thanks

> > Carolyn

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'm glad to hear these come so highly reccomended, a friend has the set and

is sending me copies, I am anxious to try them!!

Sara

On 4/10/06, Jackie Daly <passionateproducts@...> wrote:

>

> Hi there Carolyn,

>

>

>

> I have one (well two) words for you. " Signing Time! " My son LOVES his

> signing times videos. Started watching them when he was 2, and he still

> watches them at age 5. These taught him signs when we could not! I think

> signs are terribly important-my son is able to communicate because of

> those.

> As he gets words, he stops using the signs, so they never " replace " verbal

> skills. If anything, they encourage communication and make them want to

> speak as well! You can get the videos at the signing time website or

> ebay.

>

>

>

> Jackie, mom of Lucas, age 5

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kerri,

That's a very good point, I'll have to see how it goes.

Carolyn

>

> Hi,

>

> The thing about the signs for your son is that his global

dyspraxia

> may make it even harder to sign than to talk. I'd definitely give

> it a shot, but if he gets really frustrated I'd consider doing

> something else like a PECS system. My daughter liked the big

motion

> signs but had a really hard time doing anything that required

finger

> coordination. So we taught her a few signs to ease frustration

and

> luckily her speech started to come along soon afterwards.

>

> Whatever he takes to is what you want to go with!

>

> Kerri

[Guest guest]

Hi. I wrote a detailed message but then lost it. I have to say I'm

not wild about ... Anyway, just a recap of what I wrote

before, I have never heard of an ST being against signing. All the

research and current thinking is that it facilitates speech and

reduces frustration. Have you thought about maybe getting a new ST

or a second opinion? Did she say why she doesn't believe in it?

Has she tried it and had negative results? Does she know of

research we don't? Or is this just her personal opinion, and if so

what's it based on? The reason I'd ask her these questions is to

make sure she's keeping up with current research and practices and

not just relying on what she's used to/comfortable with. It took a

long time for my child to start signing because he had trouble

coordinating the movements for the gestures. Once he got his first

sign ( " more " ), he picked up others and each sign has come faster.

He's had a little explosion of signs just this week surprising me

with one or two new ones a day. I think signs are important not

just because it gives him a way to communicate but because it helps

him conceptualize the practice of using symbols. After all, words

are just symbols for things and signs are too. It seems reasonable

to assume once they get the concept of using signs as symbols, they

will transfer that understanding to words. It also helps my child

practice coordinating movement of his hands and arms, easier than

coordinating his mouth and tongue but still a challenge. In short,

I think signing is a good brain builder.

>

> Hi,

> My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I

just

> joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil messages.

Our

> neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would it

be

> safe for my baby or should he be older?

> Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started

last

> week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on

verbal

> skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him.

Sorry

> for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does not

have

> anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby

and I

> can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural

sounds

> and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants. (doesn't

help

> that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> appreciated

> thanks

> Carolyn

>

[Guest guest]

I would be very concerned about using a speech therapist who did not

encourage sign! That in itself is a warning sign on their ability to help

your family, and I suspect you won't get the best guidance for apraxia

either. Signing will bridge the communication gap until the words start to

come. It is a well studied concept and encouraged by developmental

pediatricians for all kids with significant speech delay. The whole family

should learn, and you will see the frustration level completely disappear

once your child can communication! We also have a very good natured boy,

but he started to get very frustrated with our inability to understand what

he wanted. Sign will also help him understand that he CAN communicate his

thoughts and will actually help him with attempts at speech. Then as the

speech comes - its still very difficult to understand an apraxic child...if

the family knows sign - this can help you understand what he is saying, and

work on proper pronounciation. My son know signs while he is talking - and

it really makes a huge difference.

You can get signingtime videos from you library - or you can order them on

line. Signingtime.com This was the best investment we made months back

(about $125 for the series). I was reluctant to start sign because at the

time I was so overwhelmed by my son's delays, not knowing what was wrong

with him or how to help him, and this new concept of possibly apraxia - and

this was just one more thing on my plate. Our ST recommended the videos,

and my son (22 months at the time) - can 10 knew signs after watching the

1st video, and within the week he had over 50 signs. A month into it I was

checking on him in his crib because I heard a noise...and he was signing in

his sleep! I was so thankful that we had found a passage to some

communication for him. And the temper tantrums completely went away. My son

is also globally apraxic. He was still able to sign - some of them weren't

perfect because of fine motor issues - but we understood his versions -

since he would imitate them with the video. Good luck. -

[ ] Re: new member, 15mo w/ dyspraxia

Hi. I wrote a detailed message but then lost it. I have to say I'm

not wild about ... Anyway, just a recap of what I wrote

before, I have never heard of an ST being against signing. All the

research and current thinking is that it facilitates speech and

reduces frustration. Have you thought about maybe getting a new ST

or a second opinion? Did she say why she doesn't believe in it?

Has she tried it and had negative results? Does she know of

research we don't? Or is this just her personal opinion, and if so

what's it based on? The reason I'd ask her these questions is to

make sure she's keeping up with current research and practices and

not just relying on what she's used to/comfortable with. It took a

long time for my child to start signing because he had trouble

coordinating the movements for the gestures. Once he got his first

sign ( " more " ), he picked up others and each sign has come faster.

He's had a little explosion of signs just this week surprising me

with one or two new ones a day. I think signs are important not

just because it gives him a way to communicate but because it helps

him conceptualize the practice of using symbols. After all, words

are just symbols for things and signs are too. It seems reasonable

to assume once they get the concept of using signs as symbols, they

will transfer that understanding to words. It also helps my child

practice coordinating movement of his hands and arms, easier than

coordinating his mouth and tongue but still a challenge. In short,

I think signing is a good brain builder.

>

> Hi,

> My 15mo son Aidan has hypotonia, global dyspraxia and SID. I

just

> joined this group but am overwhelmed by all the fish oil messages.

Our

> neuro didn't mention it. Is it an alternative treatment? Would it

be

> safe for my baby or should he be older?

> Can someone tell me what to expect from ST? We just started

last

> week througn EI and our ST said she doesn't believe in using baby

> signs. If Aidan has dyspraxia is it realistic to just focus on

verbal

> skills? Any ideas for excercises I could do at home with him.

Sorry

> for all the questions - we are so relieved that our baby does not

have

> anything life threatening, but he is a such a good natured baby

and I

> can already see him becoming frustrated when he makes guttural

sounds

> and babbles at us and we can't understand what he wants. (doesn't

help

> that he is unable to point either) Any help would be greatly

> appreciated

> thanks

> Carolyn

>

[Guest guest]

> Thanks ,

I will clarify why the ST does not want to do signing. I haven't

had a chance to ask her if she's worked with children with dyspraxia

in the past. I've been told she's been doing this a long time, but

I'll try to get more details. I'm looking into signing times, sounds

fun.

thanks

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Carolyn, there is a theory that signing is often done in place of speech,

and that not enough emphasis will be put on trying to get the child to say

the words. The problem with that theory is that it does not take into

account children like ours, who physically are *unable* to say the words,

putting them into a communication void without the signs or some other

alternate method. Needless to say our ST highly reccomends supplementing

with sign language if at all possible. She may be well intentioned, but I'd

say your ST is not on the right track with this one. Good luck, and let us

know how it goes. ((Hugs))

Sara

On 4/13/06, ckptry <ckptry@...> wrote:

>

> > Thanks ,

> I will clarify why the ST does not want to do signing. I haven't

> had a chance to ask her if she's worked with children with dyspraxia

> in the past. I've been told she's been doing this a long time, but

> I'll try to get more details. I'm looking into signing times, sounds

> fun.

> thanks

> Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Nowadays it seems everyone's recommending it for all babies, so I'm

really surprised anyone would still be against it (besides people

related to me I mean ). I actually started using signs when my

child was 8 mos, before I really knew there was a problem.

>

> Carolyn, there is a theory that signing is often done in place of

speech,

> and that not enough emphasis will be put on trying to get the

child to say

> the words. The problem with that theory is that it does not take

into

> account children like ours, who physically are *unable* to say the

words,

> putting them into a communication void without the signs or some

other

> alternate method. Needless to say our ST highly reccomends

supplementing

> with sign language if at all possible. She may be well

intentioned, but I'd

> say your ST is not on the right track with this one. Good luck,

and let us

> know how it goes. ((Hugs))

> Sara

>