Re: I want to Know If ................

July 14, 2008

Apraxia is not a cognitive nor a receptive disorder in itself. Of

course like anything it can co exist with children that have

cognitive or receptive disorders for other reasons. Most here have

children that have normal to above average abilities but there is a

small percent that do have children that are more impaired.

Apraxia is kind of like trying to do something while looking in the

mirror -very frustrating! Did you ever try that? Most apraxic

children are fully aware and want desperately to achieve what's

expected of them. This is probably why it's not unusual to see an

apraxic child not able to do what is perceived as " simple " and yet

able to do an advanced skill. And even if they are able to do

something once doesn't mean they can do it again! (back to the

mirror example) It doesn't always make sense -but it's something

that they can learn to overcome with motor planning strategies. At

your child's age my best advice is to give your child the benefit of

the doubt that he does understand. If he does your whole family will

be thankful you took this approach -and if in the rare case he

doesn't -at least you'll always know that you gave him the best

possible chance to succeed.

What type of therapy is he in?

Oh and PS -don't call it " developmental " apraxia. Just call it apraxia..or

verbal apraxia, oral apraxia, limb or global apraxia etc.

Apraxia is not a developmental disorder -it's a neurological one.

You'll have trouble with insurance -and with him as he grows up as the word

" developmenal " is part of the new PC name for MR.

Here's a very long archive both about apraxia as well as fish oils and

vitamin E.

Re: Hi! New and wondering about apraxia.

Hi Mrs Laurie and welcome!

Your son sounds like he has some oral apraxia which would of course

need to be confirmed by professionals. If oral apraxia is present

together with your child's delay he should at least be diagnosed

as " suspected apraxia " and appropriate therapy should be provided.

He is entitled by federal law to a free and appropriate public

education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) which

means that if 5 days of one on one speech therapy is appropriate for

him then that's what he should receive. What type of speech therapy

is he receiving from the school right now when you say " some " ?

Below is a very long archive to help -please know that you don't have

to understand it all at once -we're here as a group to help!

Thanks for sharing. This group has from the start been a group

that's made up of parents and professionals who care for children

with many types of speech and/or language delays and/or disorders.

There are parents here for example with undiagnosed " late talkers "

and we just have not heard from them in awhile. It's actually a

really good thing when there is a mix of us to share because we all

learn from each other as many diagnoses can overlap -or down the road

we learn that our child does have co diagnosis.

While this group is open to parents of all children with

communication impairments -including hearing impaired, autistic etc.

it wasn't that all that posted recently had a child with autism, or

autism and apraxia -but because of society focus on autism -many here

started following an autism approach -including ABA in some cases!

That's understandable if the much more basic approach to apraxia -ST

and OT and EFAs were tried first and didn't work -but some were

trying that to start.

The overwhelming majority (if you check the archives) have success

with the basic approach to apraxia.

On the other hand- most of us are dealing with more than verbal

apraxia.we just don't know that when our child is 2 -and we learn

through professionals and observations as they continue to grow and

more and more is expected of them. This is also why it's important

to take your child for a neurodevelopmental medical exam when your

child is suspected of apraxia to confirm or rule out other diagnosis

such as sensory integration dysfunction etc. The earlier you know -

the sooner to start appropriate therapies to get them up to speed by

kindergarten.

Don't let it overwhelm you -perhaps we aren't meant to know more

than what we have to know at each stage. We'll be here to help along

the way. It's OK to have any type of emotion when we find out our

child has more than a simple delay -or " more " than " just " verbal

apraxia. And it's OK to be completely overwhelmed and saddened to

find out your child has apraxia. And as I was one of those parents

it's never " just " apraxia when you find out!!!

It's OK to be upset " just " because your child is a " late talker " too!

Please know that I too believed Tanner to just have apraxia and have

my first message posted to a grouplist about that below.but down the

road found out he had a few other things we needed to help him

address. The incredible news is that the majority of our children if

you check history are up to speed to be mainstreamed by kindergarten-

and of course many have learned with communication impaired children

that it's best to start kindergarten at 6 vs. 5 to give them that one

extra year of therapy and developmental time.

If you have questions after reading the following please share them.

This group has always been a wealth of information for all of us, no

matter how long we've been here.

Below is a new member archived message to hopefully answer more of

your questions for now (did you read The Late Talker yet?) For updated

information on fish oils and vitamin E and more - please visit the

links section here

/links

What type of apraxic like speech behaviors are you seeing that makes

you and the SLP suspect your child has apraxia vs. a simple delay in

speech? Is your child talking at all yet? At your child's age -

without speech, it's difficult to diagnose verbal apraxia -they

could " suspect " verbal apraxia and begin treatment just in case,

which wouldn't hurt your child if he ended up just having a simple

delay. Just a few questions before we could provide more accurate

answers:

Does your child have signs of oral apraxia? (for example, can he on

command smile, imitate funny faces, blow bubbles...if you put peanut

butter anywhere around his mouth can he lick it off no matter where

it is?)

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/oralapraxia.html

Does your child have any neurological " soft signs " such as hypotonia

or sensory integration dysfunction?

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/parentfriendlysoftsigns.html

Who else evaluated your child? Was it only the SLP through your

town school or was he also in Early Intervention through the state?

(birth to three) Was he evaluated by both a speech pathologist as

well as an occupational therapist? Was/were they knowledgeable

about apraxia? (If your child wasn't diagnosed by an occupational

therapist as well and professionals suspect apraxia -I highly

recommend you request that too either through both the school as

well as private through insurance for many reasons)

To answer any questions you may have about taking your child to see a

neurodevelopmental MD if he has not yet been to one and apraxia is

suspected... in one word - " Yes!!! " I would have your child diagnosed

(private) by a neurodevelopmental medical doctor (developmental

pediatrician or pediatric neurologist) who is knowledgeable about

apraxia and other neurologically based multi-faceted communication

impairments for numerous reasons. Reasons include (but not limited

to)

*having a " hero " on the outside of the school who can assist in a

therapeutic plan and oversee your child's development over the years

*advocacy support with the insurance company

* ruling out or confirming any neurological soft signs or any other

reasons for the delay in speech

*help those that ask " why isn't he talking yet " understand this is a

medical condition -and has nothing to do with your child's cognitive

ability. (if in your child's case it doesn't. Apraxia in itself

does not affect a child's cognitive ability -and speaking early or

late is no indication of a child's intelligence. Also contrary to

popular belief -most who have speech impairments have average to

above average intelligence)

Here's an article written by Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician Dr.

Marilyn Agin that was featured as a cover article in Contemporary

Pediatrics -a trade magazine for hundreds of thousands of pediatric

medical professionals across the US. (I wrote the parent guide)

" The " late talker " -when silence isn't golden

Not all children with delayed speech are " little Einsteins " or garden

variety " late bloomers. " Some have a speech-language disorder that

will persist unless warning signs are recognized and intervention

comes early. Includes a Guide for Parents. "

Podcast interview with Dr. Marilyn Agin from Contemporary Pediatrics

http://contemporarypediatrics.modernmedicine.com/radio_peds4

Actual article (where you can read it for free)

http://drgreene.mediwire.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content & ArticleID=132720

or

http://opsc.mediwire.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content & ArticleID=132720

My parent guide still works (for free)

http://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/contpeds/data/articlestandard/contpeds/492\

\

004/136315/article.pdf

I would also have at least one private " out of pocket " (if possible)

exam with a knowledgeable speech pathologist as well. This SLP can

coordinate with your child's MD, and school therapist and other

professionals, and again be there to assist in a therapeutic plan,

help set goals and oversee your child's development over the years

if needed.

Networking with parents of other speech-impaired children is also

possibly one of the best moves you could make in your child's

recovery. Others will steer you to the " right " professionals and

programs in your area -and you won't feel so alone. I would HIGHLY

recommend joining a whose goal is to unite parents and

professionals. This group

/ is through CHERAB

http://www.cherab.org

The speechville website also has message boards so that you can talk

to other parents on particular topics.

http://www.speech-express.com/boards/

Check your state resources at Speechville to find local support

groups and resources.

http://www.speech-express.com/regional-resources.html

http://www.speech-express.com/communication-station/regional-support-groups.html

(BTW -for anyone who is either running or starting a support group -

due to The Late Talker book and the many who will see your group,

please make sure your info is up at this website and accurate)

For all your other questions including what type of testing -just

read " The Late Talker " . (Nike said 'Just Do It!' -I say 'Just Read

It!') At Amazon.com you can even start today and read sample pages

of the book online!

" The first book to show parents how to tell whether a child has a

speech delay -or a more serious speech disorder

Every parent eagerly awaits the day his or her child will speak for

the fist time. For millions of mothers and fathers, however,

anticipation

turns to anxiety when those initial, all-important words are a long

time

coming. Many worried parents are reassured that their child is " just

a late

talker, " but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Co-author

July 14, 2008

Hi kiddie,

My son speech therapist truly believes he has a apraxia. They haven't fully

diagnosed him with apraxia at age 3 he was given an evaluation which was

determined he has a developmental delay and was given pre-k 5 days a week... His

therapist at the time tried contacting those who determined this diagnosis with

no luck in getting a hold of them she was upset he was not going to be receiving

speech one on one with a speech therapist. I have tried to get a speech

therapist on my own my insurance doesn't cover it I Can't afford it as well

right now I have gone to the school to have a meeting when we are able to

reevaluate him They claim not till March once school starts I'm going to annoy

them again. His teacher agrees he needs a speech therapist but right now

they've given such huge budget cuts That there trying not to even go down that

road. I Started giving him some enzymes and Trying to change his diet to the

GCF And i'm giving him omega

3-6-9. I'm trying anything and everything But without his speech therapy I

dont think He will improve.

And thanks kiddie for telling me not to call it developmental...Now I have a

question Who actually diagnoses him with apraxia?, thks!

From: kiddietalk <kiddietalk@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: I want to Know If ................

Date: Monday, July 14, 2008, 3:52 AM