New and confused

March 28, 2007

My son was evaluated by a SLP today and she said she suspects he has

Apraxia. She said that children are normally not offically diagnosed

with such a disorder until they are 3, and Terry is 30 months old.

Terry did not start talking much at all until about 4-5 months ago,

and most of his words are not understandable to anyone except me and

sometime my husband, because I have taught him.

For example: fish=key, snake=nay-o, milk=ma, daddy=die, ball=ba,

balloon=ba, vacuum=ba, star-kwai, airplane=ah, trian=try-a,

Santa=Sha, present=pee, please=pee, pencil=pee.

Terry NEVER babbled or cooed as an infant and was really just a quiet

toddler for the most part, unless he was crying for something. Never

babbleing or cooing though like most babies do.

His vocabulary was also very limited to about 20-35 words until

recently. Recently he broke his leg and that has sort of " forced " him

into talking more to get his needs met. He has also been watching

more TV than playing like he used to, and I try to make some of that

TV " educational " as well.

Now he has about 80 words he uses, although I understand this is no

where, where he should be for his age.

Terry will occasionally gag on his food, depending on the texture of

what I offer him, and how hungry he is. I have learned not to try to

bribe him to eat-or he definitly gags. If he isnt absolutly hungry -

no matter what time of day - he will gag the food. At first I thought

he was being difficult, but he really isnt that kind of child. He

never has been " difficult " about anything.

Terry also will use words and then either stop using them altogether,

or stop for a day or two or more and then use a different variation

of the word. Like he used to say dada, but now Dada has become " die " .

I have found though, that over time, he has kept and keeps more words

than he used to.

It seems like he can say a portion of a lot of words, but can't

finish it. Like, Ball=ba, cool=coo, dog= da, moon=mmmmm, cat=ca,

Terry=Tee.

The SLP wants to see Terry for one on one sessions twice a week.

I am wondering what any of you could offer on what I have said. Any

words/advice/comments would be greatly appreciated!!

March 28, 2007

Really sounds like apraxia. Consider starting omega 3 and vit E, in

addition to the 1:1 ST (which is also critical since your ST suspects

apraxia hopefully is familiar with good approaches for apraxia). Get

him evaluated by an OT as well, since many of these children have

coordination issues and low tone that are not picked up on regular

pediatric exams, but becomes obvious upon special testing. There is

still 6 months left before he turns 3 that you could get some of the

services covered through EI program if you can get him in to be

evaluated. All the private therapy is expensive and whatever help you

can get from the state is a good thing while its available. -

> My son was evaluated by a SLP today and she said she suspects he

has

> Apraxia. She said that children are normally not offically

diagnosed

> with such a disorder until they are 3, and Terry is 30 months old.

>

> Terry did not start talking much at all until about 4-5 months ago,

> and most of his words are not understandable to anyone except me

and

> sometime my husband, because I have taught him.

> For example: fish=key, snake=nay-o, milk=ma, daddy=die, ball=ba,

> balloon=ba, vacuum=ba, star-kwai, airplane=ah, trian=try-a,

> Santa=Sha, present=pee, please=pee, pencil=pee.

> Terry NEVER babbled or cooed as an infant and was really just a

quiet

> toddler for the most part, unless he was crying for something.

Never

> babbleing or cooing though like most babies do.

> His vocabulary was also very limited to about 20-35 words until

> recently. Recently he broke his leg and that has sort of " forced "

him

> into talking more to get his needs met. He has also been watching

> more TV than playing like he used to, and I try to make some of

that

> TV " educational " as well.

>

> Now he has about 80 words he uses, although I understand this is no

> where, where he should be for his age.

>

> Terry will occasionally gag on his food, depending on the texture

of

> what I offer him, and how hungry he is. I have learned not to try

to

> bribe him to eat-or he definitly gags. If he isnt absolutly hungry -

> no matter what time of day - he will gag the food. At first I

thought

> he was being difficult, but he really isnt that kind of child. He

> never has been " difficult " about anything.

> Terry also will use words and then either stop using them

altogether,

> or stop for a day or two or more and then use a different variation

> of the word. Like he used to say dada, but now Dada has

become " die " .

> I have found though, that over time, he has kept and keeps more

words

> than he used to.

> It seems like he can say a portion of a lot of words, but can't

> finish it. Like, Ball=ba, cool=coo, dog= da, moon=mmmmm, cat=ca,

> Terry=Tee.

> The SLP wants to see Terry for one on one sessions twice a week.

> I am wondering what any of you could offer on what I have said. Any

> words/advice/comments would be greatly appreciated!!

>

March 28, 2007