Re: DIY

[Guest guest]

Hello

Welcome to the Group I am sure you will find great support within this Group.

My daughter Andrianna is two years old and she has Global Developmental

Delays, Hypotonia, Dyspraxia and Strabismus.

She is currently doing physio 2xweeks, 1 individual therapy and 1 group

therapy. She is also in regular daycare 2xweeks and she has made great

improvements in all aspect of her development.

She is severely delayed in her speech but will be meeting the Speechie on 12

Jun YAY!!!

Take care and you are very welcome to chat anytime, I am on

chrissylionhearted@... or christinerowe63976@...

Chrissy

kelly mcdougal <kmcfromncsu@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the group and found this as a last, but hopefully not least,

resort. My son has a terrible time with his words. On a good day, we can

understand 1/3 of what he says. He will be in second grade next year. We are

frustrated because in speech therapy at his school, he only receives therapy 3

times a week for an hour each time. But even at that, he has 3 other kids in

his group, so how much therapy is he REALLY getting? So, I looked into getting

some of the articulation software packages. Sorry, but $100 a pop is not in my

budget right now. Does anyone have any ideas for good DIY therapy? Are there

websites out there that have materials? Is it appropriate for me to try to

teach my son how to talk correctly? I'm not a therapist.

Anyways, thanks for reading this and thanks for any ideas or suggestions.

[Guest guest]

Hi . I've been wondering this myself, especially since I can't

seem to get a PROMPT therapist (finally found one but now she won't

call me back). I think if I were able to watch a PROMPT therapist a

few times, I might be able to absorb enough to do some of the

practices myself. I got a hold of some illustrations for the

Beckman protocol and have been sort of winging that, but I don't

know if I'm really doing it properly. Traditional speech therapy

seems pretty easy for me to model. It's a lot of repetition of

sounds and labeling objects in pictures and books and encouraging

word approximations or at least sounds (this is how it is with my

son's EI speech anyway). All good stuff, and I try to work it in to

our day as much as possible, but I really believe my son needs more

of an oral motor approach. To that end, I've been stimulating the

inside of his mouth, massaging his gums, trying to get him to chew

on (appropriate) things (like a chewy tube). It's not enough, but

it's all I have till I can find an SLP with the skills we need to

supplement the speech and OT he already gets through EI. Are the

articulation software packages intended for you (the adult) to watch

in order to learn how to work with your child, or is the child

supposed to use the software directly. I don't think I would put

much faith in something intended for the child to use directly. I

think children need direct therapy from a person.

I guess my suggestion would be to get a private SLP who is PROMPT

trained, Beckman trained, and ideally SI trained and observe the

sessions until you feel like you can duplicate them on your own.

This wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't be ongoing

indefinitely, and maybe you could get insurance to cover some of

it.

I'd be really interested to know if anyone else thinks DIY speech

therapy is a good idea (if you just can't afford or find an SLP with

the right training) or even possible.

Don't know how helpful this was, but welcome to the group!

Kristi

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I'm new to the group and found this as a last, but hopefully not

least, resort. My son has a terrible time with his words. On a

good day, we can understand 1/3 of what he says. He will be in

second grade next year. We are frustrated because in speech therapy

at his school, he only receives therapy 3 times a week for an hour

each time. But even at that, he has 3 other kids in his group, so

how much therapy is he REALLY getting? So, I looked into getting

some of the articulation software packages. Sorry, but $100 a pop

is not in my budget right now. Does anyone have any ideas for good

DIY therapy? Are there websites out there that have materials? Is

it appropriate for me to try to teach my son how to talk correctly?

I'm not a therapist.

>

> Anyways, thanks for reading this and thanks for any ideas or

suggestions.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ring'em or ping'em. Make PC-to-phone calls as low as 1¢/min with

Messenger with Voice.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , welcome to the group. I've been lurking around here for a few months

and wanted to give my two cents on this topic. I have a little boy that will be

entering 3rd grade after receiving speech his first two years. Like you, he is

receiving group therapy. Not to mention the summer breaks and holidays when

there is no therapy. I use myspeechroom.com for my materials. Instead of

reading bedtime stories everynight, I take my laptop to his room and we do the

exercises. The thing I like about myspeechroom is that they have speech

therapists available to help. Personally, my wife and I have had little contact

with 's therapist at the school. We work with the therapists online at

least once a week. Give them a try, I never knew what modeling was outside of a

runway in Paris. Or what a cue was except on a pool table. But I feel closer

to that this is something that I can share in being his father, and I

actually think he tries to do all of their

activities.

Kristi, have you heard much about Beckman? I read where all of her work is

theory based, no support for oral motor. I can send you a link if you want re:

oral motor stuff. I've been reading where it isn't proven to help.

Just wanted to say that I've enjoyed this group and nice to be a part of such

good people.

Thanks!

Max

myjunkytrash <myjunkytrash@...> wrote:

Hi . I've been wondering this myself, especially since I can't

seem to get a PROMPT therapist (finally found one but now she won't

call me back). I think if I were able to watch a PROMPT therapist a

few times, I might be able to absorb enough to do some of the

practices myself. I got a hold of some illustrations for the

Beckman protocol and have been sort of winging that, but I don't

know if I'm really doing it properly. Traditional speech therapy

seems pretty easy for me to model. It's a lot of repetition of

sounds and labeling objects in pictures and books and encouraging

word approximations or at least sounds (this is how it is with my

son's EI speech anyway). All good stuff, and I try to work it in to

our day as much as possible, but I really believe my son needs more

of an oral motor approach. To that end, I've been stimulating the

inside of his mouth, massaging his gums, trying to get him to chew

on (appropriate) things (like a chewy tube). It's not enough, but

it's all I have till I can find an SLP with the skills we need to

supplement the speech and OT he already gets through EI. Are the

articulation software packages intended for you (the adult) to watch

in order to learn how to work with your child, or is the child

supposed to use the software directly. I don't think I would put

much faith in something intended for the child to use directly. I

think children need direct therapy from a person.

I guess my suggestion would be to get a private SLP who is PROMPT

trained, Beckman trained, and ideally SI trained and observe the

sessions until you feel like you can duplicate them on your own.

This wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't be ongoing

indefinitely, and maybe you could get insurance to cover some of

it.

I'd be really interested to know if anyone else thinks DIY speech

therapy is a good idea (if you just can't afford or find an SLP with

the right training) or even possible.

Don't know how helpful this was, but welcome to the group!

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Hi Max. I would be interested in any oral motor info you can send

me (you can email me directly if you like, but then again others in

the group might like to see any links you have). I don't know a

whole lot about Beckman. My son's SLP got some training materials

from another SLP and gave me copies. These include some drawn

diagrams of facial stretching exercises, no explanations really. A

couple of people from this group told me they thought it was helpful

and I've spoken to a couple of SLPs (one in another state who

sounded like the dream apraxia therapist) and one locally (the one

who never called me back) and both recommended it. I've been trying

them out (what I can figure out anyway). My son doesn't mind it and

it only takes a couple of minutes, so why not? Anyway, I do think

it has helped him " understand " where features on his face are. He's

26 mos today and I swear he used to not know where his chin, lips or

tongue were! The thing is, I've been doing a number of what I guess

you would call oral motor exercises, so I can't say what has done

the most good. These include vibrating toothbrush, trying to move

his tongue (with a candy " lik a stick " or straw with a spoon end or

just a toothbrush), a little routine I made up where I get him to

chase his toothbrush around with his tongue (also do this with

floss), OT directed brushing protocol (for the body actually, also

not proven, but I sure am sold), gum massage (part of Beckman I

think), the OT uses a z-vibe in his mouth along with sour sprays.

We also play games where he is encouraged to touch his face. I'm

sure there's more, but that gives you a general idea.

The reason I'm so enthusiastic about an oral motor approach is

because we saw the most gains overall when we added OT. Also, it

just seems the nature of this problem (apraxia) is oral motor;

that's just my take from what I've read and it's my gut feeling from

observing my child. Of course, I'm not any kind of expert, so I

could be wrong. Unless someone can tell me a specific therapy that

will definitely work, I'll continue to try any approach as long as

it isn't dangerous to my child.

I'm very interested in the website you described. What kind of

therapy do you do with your son? How does it differ from

traditional therapy?

I wonder what kind of therapy PROMPT is considered to be. I thought

it was oral motor (since the therapists work in the mouth) and that

therapy gets lots of raves. Have you looked into that at all?

Thanks and sorry so long!

Kristi

> Hi . I've been wondering this myself, especially since I

can't

> seem to get a PROMPT therapist (finally found one but now she

won't

> call me back). I think if I were able to watch a PROMPT therapist

a

> few times, I might be able to absorb enough to do some of the

> practices myself. I got a hold of some illustrations for the

> Beckman protocol and have been sort of winging that, but I don't

> know if I'm really doing it properly. Traditional speech therapy

> seems pretty easy for me to model. It's a lot of repetition of

> sounds and labeling objects in pictures and books and encouraging

> word approximations or at least sounds (this is how it is with my

> son's EI speech anyway). All good stuff, and I try to work it in

to

> our day as much as possible, but I really believe my son needs

more

> of an oral motor approach. To that end, I've been stimulating the

> inside of his mouth, massaging his gums, trying to get him to chew

> on (appropriate) things (like a chewy tube). It's not enough, but

> it's all I have till I can find an SLP with the skills we need to

> supplement the speech and OT he already gets through EI. Are the

> articulation software packages intended for you (the adult) to

watch

> in order to learn how to work with your child, or is the child

> supposed to use the software directly. I don't think I would put

> much faith in something intended for the child to use directly. I

> think children need direct therapy from a person.

>

> I guess my suggestion would be to get a private SLP who is PROMPT

> trained, Beckman trained, and ideally SI trained and observe the

> sessions until you feel like you can duplicate them on your own.

> This wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't be ongoing

> indefinitely, and maybe you could get insurance to cover some of

> it.

>

> I'd be really interested to know if anyone else thinks DIY speech

> therapy is a good idea (if you just can't afford or find an SLP

with

> the right training) or even possible.

>

> Don't know how helpful this was, but welcome to the group!

>

> Kristi

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi,

I've added some links to a few articles on oral motor, the last being a pdf

file. From what I've read about apraxia, it has nothing to do with strength and

endurance, but is a motor planning disorder. And through building repetitions

of speech sounds, you build those connections in your brain that connect the

nerves and the muscles and make them work together.

I was telling you about myspeechroom. They have therapists there online, Mike

is mine. Perhaps it's a guy thing, but he has really helped me understand how

to help . My relationship with the little guy has never been stronger.

We download the ppt files and do the repetitions several times each week. Go to

their site and write to Mike, tell him Max sent you. LOL He knows who I am, I

bug him all the time. He has explained, as best I can understand, some about

apraxia and, more importantly, is still working with me about how to work with

providing cues and modeling.

How long has your son been in therapy? I know I need to be supportive of my

therapist in the school, but feel like I'm learning a lot on my own. Do you

meet with your school SLP, except for IEP? Have you considered going to a

Beckman seminar? I know she does them around the country.

Have a great Sunday night, Kristi.

Max

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/site/c.chKMI0PIIsE/b.980831/apps/s/content.asp?ct=46\

4461

http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2005/050614/f05061\

4b.htm

http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen/cb-oct2005OMT-ACQ.pdf

myjunkytrash <myjunkytrash@...> wrote: Hi Max. I would be interested in

any oral motor info you can send

me (you can email me directly if you like, but then again others in

the group might like to see any links you have). I don't know a

whole lot about Beckman. My son's SLP got some training materials

from another SLP and gave me copies. These include some drawn

diagrams of facial stretching exercises, no explanations really. A

couple of people from this group told me they thought it was helpful

and I've spoken to a couple of SLPs (one in another state who

sounded like the dream apraxia therapist) and one locally (the one

who never called me back) and both recommended it. I've been trying

them out (what I can figure out anyway). My son doesn't mind it and

it only takes a couple of minutes, so why not? Anyway, I do think

it has helped him " understand " where features on his face are. He's

26 mos today and I swear he used to not know where his chin, lips or

tongue were! The thing is, I've been doing a number of what I guess

you would call oral motor exercises, so I can't say what has done

the most good. These include vibrating toothbrush, trying to move

his tongue (with a candy " lik a stick " or straw with a spoon end or

just a toothbrush), a little routine I made up where I get him to

chase his toothbrush around with his tongue (also do this with

floss), OT directed brushing protocol (for the body actually, also

not proven, but I sure am sold), gum massage (part of Beckman I

think), the OT uses a z-vibe in his mouth along with sour sprays.

We also play games where he is encouraged to touch his face. I'm

sure there's more, but that gives you a general idea.

The reason I'm so enthusiastic about an oral motor approach is

because we saw the most gains overall when we added OT. Also, it

just seems the nature of this problem (apraxia) is oral motor;

that's just my take from what I've read and it's my gut feeling from

observing my child. Of course, I'm not any kind of expert, so I

could be wrong. Unless someone can tell me a specific therapy that

will definitely work, I'll continue to try any approach as long as

it isn't dangerous to my child.

I'm very interested in the website you described. What kind of

therapy do you do with your son? How does it differ from

traditional therapy?

I wonder what kind of therapy PROMPT is considered to be. I thought

it was oral motor (since the therapists work in the mouth) and that

therapy gets lots of raves. Have you looked into that at all?

Thanks and sorry so long!

Kristi

> Hi . I've been wondering this myself, especially since I

can't

> seem to get a PROMPT therapist (finally found one but now she

won't

> call me back). I think if I were able to watch a PROMPT therapist

a

> few times, I might be able to absorb enough to do some of the

> practices myself. I got a hold of some illustrations for the

> Beckman protocol and have been sort of winging that, but I don't

> know if I'm really doing it properly. Traditional speech therapy

> seems pretty easy for me to model. It's a lot of repetition of

> sounds and labeling objects in pictures and books and encouraging

> word approximations or at least sounds (this is how it is with my

> son's EI speech anyway). All good stuff, and I try to work it in

to

> our day as much as possible, but I really believe my son needs

more

> of an oral motor approach. To that end, I've been stimulating the

> inside of his mouth, massaging his gums, trying to get him to chew

> on (appropriate) things (like a chewy tube). It's not enough, but

> it's all I have till I can find an SLP with the skills we need to

> supplement the speech and OT he already gets through EI. Are the

> articulation software packages intended for you (the adult) to

watch

> in order to learn how to work with your child, or is the child

> supposed to use the software directly. I don't think I would put

> much faith in something intended for the child to use directly. I

> think children need direct therapy from a person.

>

> I guess my suggestion would be to get a private SLP who is PROMPT

> trained, Beckman trained, and ideally SI trained and observe the

> sessions until you feel like you can duplicate them on your own.

> This wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't be ongoing

> indefinitely, and maybe you could get insurance to cover some of

> it.

>

> I'd be really interested to know if anyone else thinks DIY speech

> therapy is a good idea (if you just can't afford or find an SLP

with

> the right training) or even possible.

>

> Don't know how helpful this was, but welcome to the group!

>

> Kristi

>

[Guest guest]

Max,

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. I checked out myspeechroom and got

the impression it's for older children, at least that's what it

looked like from the description and sample exercise. It looks like

a tool children can use directly that includes games and other fun

ways to engage in language practice. My son is only 2, so if this

is the main type of interface, he is probably too young. However,

if there are training tools for parents, it may be just the ticket.

I'll have to email them to see if they have materials for toddlers

and babies.

Because my child is only 2, we've only used EI so far. Based on

every thing I've read here I'm pretty nervous about dealing with

schools when the time comes.

As for apraxia not being rooted in lack of strength and endurance,

this may be the case, but it seems to me that if you aren't talking,

then the muscles in your mouth and tongue won't develop properly,

which would exasperate the problem. From what I've read, many

apraxic children have eating issues, with delays in starting solid

foods, this would also delay the building of those muscles used to

push food around the mouth, chew and swallow (and used to form

words). Also, it seems apraxic children have poor awareness of

their mouths and tongues. Oral motor techniques (at least what I

think of as oral motor techniques) helps build awareness of these

areas. And the last point in my case actually overlaps with what

you said about repetitions of speech sounds building connections in

the brain. Oral motor techniques that cause apraxics to move their

tongues, faces, mouths, build connections that make it easier to

plan those very movements, because the pathways become more

ingrained. At least, this is how I understand it. I guess the way

I see it is this, you have to move the mouth, tongue, lips and face

to make speech, and apraxics have difficulty with this; therefore,

appropriate speech therapy for apraxics includes procedures for

addressing this difficulty. It isn't the entire answer, just one

piece of the puzzle.

I'm looking forward to reading what you sent me; I'll see if my

theories still make sense to me after I do!

Thanks again and have a nice evening.

> > Hi . I've been wondering this myself, especially since I

> can't

> > seem to get a PROMPT therapist (finally found one but now she

> won't

> > call me back). I think if I were able to watch a PROMPT

therapist

> a

> > few times, I might be able to absorb enough to do some of the

> > practices myself. I got a hold of some illustrations for the

> > Beckman protocol and have been sort of winging that, but I don't

> > know if I'm really doing it properly. Traditional speech

therapy

> > seems pretty easy for me to model. It's a lot of repetition of

> > sounds and labeling objects in pictures and books and

encouraging

> > word approximations or at least sounds (this is how it is with

my

> > son's EI speech anyway). All good stuff, and I try to work it

in

> to

> > our day as much as possible, but I really believe my son needs

> more

> > of an oral motor approach. To that end, I've been stimulating

the

> > inside of his mouth, massaging his gums, trying to get him to

chew

> > on (appropriate) things (like a chewy tube). It's not enough,

but

> > it's all I have till I can find an SLP with the skills we need

to

> > supplement the speech and OT he already gets through EI. Are

the

> > articulation software packages intended for you (the adult) to

> watch

> > in order to learn how to work with your child, or is the child

> > supposed to use the software directly. I don't think I would

put

> > much faith in something intended for the child to use directly.

I

> > think children need direct therapy from a person.

> >

> > I guess my suggestion would be to get a private SLP who is

PROMPT

> > trained, Beckman trained, and ideally SI trained and observe the

> > sessions until you feel like you can duplicate them on your

own.

> > This wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't be ongoing

> > indefinitely, and maybe you could get insurance to cover some of

> > it.

> >

> > I'd be really interested to know if anyone else thinks DIY

speech

> > therapy is a good idea (if you just can't afford or find an SLP

> with

> > the right training) or even possible.

> >

> > Don't know how helpful this was, but welcome to the group!

> >

> > Kristi

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Max!

Apraxia in itself doesn't have to do with strength and endurance -

that's typically due to tonal issues (hypotonia/low tone/weakness)

Most of the links you have below are from the same camp - the

classic one that apraxia is a speech disorder. This is why I

started CHERAB because in the other group I didn't find the fit with

my son who had such apparent " soft signs " of hypotonia and sensory

issues as well. You see I don't know if any of us know the classic

way that rare child with apraxia presented decades ago. Or even in

fact if they really did exist way back when. All I know is that

when I started the first nonprofit for apraxia in NJ out of

Children's Specialized Hospital for those few who like me had a

child with apraxia -I was shocked even at our first meeting by the

sheer numbers of parents that attended! Apraxia is not rare in NJ -

and we got to know each other and each other's children. These

children as a group presented with multifaceted aspects -which to me

means that apraxia is not 'just' a speech disorder to the majority.

I was shocked by the lack of information about apraxia by the AAP

for children, shocked that some of the known " top experts " in the

world of apraxia, the person behind Prompt, Kaufman for example -and

even oral motor expert (who is very knowledgeable about apraxia in

my opinion) Sara Rosenthal ...none of them spoke to each

other. I brought some of them together at a conference and that was

incredible. I never got it that some want a " Prompt "

therapist. What if the person was awesome with prompt therapy -but

your child also would benefit even greater if the Kaufman approach

was added, or needed oral motor therapy too? And don't get me

started about why speech therapists and neuroMDs were not speaking.

Why SLPs didn't send suspected apraxic children for neuroMD exams to

rule out or confirm the neurological soft signs of hypotonia, DSI,

and/or motor planning issues in the body.

To me apraxia is a syndrome that

comes complete with probable issues with constipation on top of

everything else. You tell me an SLP who is qualified to deal with

that? Experts who work with apraxic children should refer to each

other. Don't assume it's not due to " today's " apraxia.

In order to best help these children 'today' with apraxia we need to

look at the whole child. Yes for the very few it will just be a

speech impairment. For the majority it's more than that.

The reason I don't care what you call it (as long as it's not

developmental or childhood apraxia of speech) is that I don't

believe what we are seeing for the past decade or so with apraxic

children is what apraxia was in the classic sense when some of the

experts first wrote about it.

My suspicion is that apraxia is NOT genetic (out of all the states

in the country you'd never choose either NY or NJ for apraxia -the

fastest talking states in the East!) Out of all the parents I've

met we all can't think of any children we grew up with that had

trouble talking. We all (outside of those that have stuttering in

the family somewhere) have absolutely no idea where the apraxia came

from since nobody in the family has any trouble with speaking. Yes

in some families like mine there was an Aunt Betty that didn't speak

until 3 -but then she was fluent in two languages and they " couldn't

shut her up "

Apraxia today is called apraxia because nobody thought to call it

anything else -and we all have looked at the classic apraxia kids

information -but I don't believe you get the whole story there. The

people behind apraxia kids didn't have huge support groups where

they saw tons of the kids when they started the website and

grouplist (it was all virtual just a few years ago) If I mentioned

any of the low tone issues I saw in Tanner -that was off topic. If

I mentioned how fish oils helped -that was off topic. If I

mentioned how much the neuroMDs Tanner saw helped -that was a

fluke...and off topic. SLPs were the experts and apraxia is a

speech disorder. Maybe it was then -but that information didn't

help me to help my son Tanner. This group today may be the only one

like it in the world -but you guys have the chance that I didn't to

help your child from a very early age. Your whole child -not just

his or her speech.

So to sum up my soap box speech...even though apraxia in the classic

sense of being just a motor planning disorder doesn't cause any

issues with endurance and strength -because today it so frequently

does present with mild hypotonia in so many -that could be today's

apraxic child.

=====

[Guest guest]

hi kristi- i think diy speech is a good idea and do it in addition to private

speech and have learned alot from watching the speech therapists work with my

son who has turned the tables on his dissability and is now 80% intelligible.

2 years ago he was 20% intelligible, we used the kaufman kits as josh doesnt

copy speech spontaneously. Have you read the may issue of ladies home journal?

There is an article called the language of love- its about apraxia- just

thought you might want to read it- we have a new slp who started today and josh

was given the goldman frestoe and answered every question and got most of them

right-charlotte henry

[Guest guest]

Hi Max,

Just wanted to say I decided to join myspeechroom. likes the pictures

and as Mike said, going through the exercises is enough repetition. He also put

up exercises for p,b,m sounds. Heck, so I give up a trip to Mc's this

month!

Has anyone ever heard of using vitalstim or e-stim on kids for increasing

strength of oral muscles? Something I want to look into....

Thanks,

Max Gomez <xamgomez@...> wrote:

Hi , welcome to the group. I've been lurking around here for a few

months and wanted to give my two cents on this topic. I have a little boy that

will be entering 3rd grade after receiving speech his first two years. Like

you, he is receiving group therapy. Not to mention the summer breaks and

holidays when there is no therapy. I use myspeechroom.com for my materials.

Instead of reading bedtime stories everynight, I take my laptop to his room and

we do the exercises. The thing I like about myspeechroom is that they have

speech therapists available to help. Personally, my wife and I have had little

contact with 's therapist at the school. We work with the therapists

online at least once a week. Give them a try, I never knew what modeling was

outside of a runway in Paris. Or what a cue was except on a pool table. But I

feel closer to that this is something that I can share in being his

father, and I actually think he tries to do all of their

activities.

Kristi, have you heard much about Beckman? I read where all of her work is

theory based, no support for oral motor. I can send you a link if you want re:

oral motor stuff. I've been reading where it isn't proven to help.

Just wanted to say that I've enjoyed this group and nice to be a part of such

good people.

Thanks!

Max

myjunkytrash <myjunkytrash@...> wrote:

Hi . I've been wondering this myself, especially since I can't

seem to get a PROMPT therapist (finally found one but now she won't

call me back). I think if I were able to watch a PROMPT therapist a

few times, I might be able to absorb enough to do some of the

practices myself. I got a hold of some illustrations for the

Beckman protocol and have been sort of winging that, but I don't

know if I'm really doing it properly. Traditional speech therapy

seems pretty easy for me to model. It's a lot of repetition of

sounds and labeling objects in pictures and books and encouraging

word approximations or at least sounds (this is how it is with my

son's EI speech anyway). All good stuff, and I try to work it in to

our day as much as possible, but I really believe my son needs more

of an oral motor approach. To that end, I've been stimulating the

inside of his mouth, massaging his gums, trying to get him to chew

on (appropriate) things (like a chewy tube). It's not enough, but

it's all I have till I can find an SLP with the skills we need to

supplement the speech and OT he already gets through EI. Are the

articulation software packages intended for you (the adult) to watch

in order to learn how to work with your child, or is the child

supposed to use the software directly. I don't think I would put

much faith in something intended for the child to use directly. I

think children need direct therapy from a person.

I guess my suggestion would be to get a private SLP who is PROMPT

trained, Beckman trained, and ideally SI trained and observe the

sessions until you feel like you can duplicate them on your own.

This wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't be ongoing

indefinitely, and maybe you could get insurance to cover some of

it.

I'd be really interested to know if anyone else thinks DIY speech

therapy is a good idea (if you just can't afford or find an SLP with

the right training) or even possible.

Don't know how helpful this was, but welcome to the group!

Kristi

[Guest guest]

I started on two 650mg doses immediately. I kept that up for about 6 months and then reduced to 650 one time a day. I have been at the 650mg level for about 4 years. I highly recommend using enteric coated aspirin if you aren't already doing so.

Marcus

[Guest guest]

I am listening and I am also impatient. I have had this for 7 years and all I get from the 10 different ENT guys is try these new drugs (new being another set of drugs from the previous time) and you'll need another operation. Apart from my first day all has went rather well. I took 1300mg today and felt nothing other than hungry even although i just had a full lunch. I will buy some enteric aspirin and try next few days. Re: DIY

I am not sure if you are listening to what people are saying, but in

case you are ...

I recommend absolutely always taking the aspirin with full meals. I

also recommend Ecotrin or Ascriptin -- I personally used Ascriptin and

found it did not have any effect on my stomach. Non-buffered aspirin

such as baby aspirin could really be a problem especially over any

length of time. I would not take all 1300 milligrams at once. I am

not even sure why you would want to other than just impatience. This

illness takes commitment to improve the symptoms.

Lori

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