RE: Any others with JUST verbal apraxia?

January 6, 2002

Hi,

I normally don't post to often but when I read your email it sounded just the

way I am feeling. My son was also diagnosed with just pure verbal apraxia

when he was 2. I also sometimes feel out of place on this board. My son has

no other signs of anything else. He just got another evaluation from a new

speech therapist and she says he just has a severe articulation problem. But

all the other speech therapist said he has verbal apraxia. He had a slow

start when he started speech but since he has been in the preschool for

speech he has made great improvement. But he is very behind on his

articulation.

So you are not alone. I would love to believe he does not have apraxia but I

don't want to be in denial either.

Jeanne

January 6, 2002

My son, Conlan, also only has verbal apraxia. He is three and half. This

summer he barely had a 20 word vocabulary. He is now putting two and three

words together. We have been very fortunate. He receives speech everyday

thru the preschool speech in our school district, 2x's group and 3x's

individual. We also have excellent insurance that pays for private speech in

the summer. We still have along ways to go, but we are seeing progress.

January 6, 2002

Hi all-

YES- my daughter's only condition is verbal apraxia. She does not

have the SI or hyptonia etc. We are out here, you are not alone in

this discussion board. I had a friend that her child was diagnosed

with apraxia when he was two, now they say he does not have it..just

articulation problems, but to me still seems apraxic...but hey I am

just a mom....

I read the information about what other parents post, as I am a

sponge for information, even though it does not always apply in my

case. I have not seen any other problems with my daughter, and know

that you are not alone!

Thanks

Liz

http://kidstalkback.tripod.com/kidstalkback/

> Hi,

>

> I normally don't post to often but when I read your email it

sounded just the

> way I am feeling. My son was also diagnosed with just pure verbal

apraxia

> when he was 2. I also sometimes feel out of place on this board. My

son has

> no other signs of anything else. He just got another evaluation

from a new

> speech therapist and she says he just has a severe articulation

problem. But

> all the other speech therapist said he has verbal apraxia. He had a

slow

> start when he started speech but since he has been in the preschool

for

> speech he has made great improvement. But he is very behind on his

> articulation.

>

> So you are not alone. I would love to believe he does not have

apraxia but I

> don't want to be in denial either.

>

> Jeanne

>

January 6, 2002

Hi Jeannie,

I know there are some boards which are very specific as to the

condition. As the president of CHERAB, a nonprofit that raises

awareness about the importance of early evaluation and/or

intervention if needed of all late talkers, I, and all of us from

CHERAB, wanted a place where all parents and professionals that care

for late talker or apraxic children could share. Because late

talkers are very common, and because speech disorders appear to be on

the rise according to educational and other reports (I'll quote on

another post if you want, this one is too long already!) and because

apraxia 'can' and does at times co exist with other disorders,

including autism and even some rare genetic disorders, we do get a

variety of representations. Good thing is that we also get a variety

of therapy and support advice that may also help our children, even

if they are " just late talkers " or " just apraxic "

As you are probably aware, there are some late talking children who

are apraxic that are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed. And even if a

child is diagnosed as apraxic-or anything else, many parents of

diagnosed children also sometimes wonder if their child is " just a

late talker. " To make things more confusing there are two things

that have now come to light as of fairly recently. The apparent

acceleration in speech from apraxic (and even late talkers not

diagnosed who may or may not have been apraxic) with Omega 3/6

supplementation, and two, conditions like Specific Language

Impairment or SLI as it is more commonly referred to. We all know

the EFA part from here and the http://www.apraxia.cc website (and if

not it's easy enough to search it out) But what is SLI? And what

does that have to do with apraxia vs late talker?

Here are some quotes from http://professional.asha.org/news/sli.cfm

which I suggest you print out or save before ASHA changes the link as

they have in the past. I'm sure you will find it of interest if you

have a late talker or apraxic child. (and since my last post about

SLI I've heard it's not unheard of for children who were diagnosed

with apraxia when young to now be labeled as SLI.

" Children with SLI usually learn to talk late. It is not unusual to

first encounter a child with SLI at age 3 or 4 years, with limited

vocabulary and short utterances. Later on they are likely to be the

kinds of kids who are told by well-meaning parents and teachers that

they are smart but unmotivated and that they just need to try harder. "

So they are late talkers

" The incidence of SLI was recently estimated in a study funded by the

National Institutes of Health to be 7.6% among 5-year-old children.

This compares with well under 1% for Down syndrome and autism, to use

just two examples of disorders with a secondary effect on language

development. One study showed that 70% of children tested at age 5

and diagnosed with SLI continued to have low language performance at

age 18 to 20. Studies also indicate that if a child has SLI there is

about a 25% chance that another family member will be similarly

affected. However, in these family/genetic studies, SLI is rarely

found in isolation. Over 75% of affected individuals also meet

criteria as reading-impaired and/or auditory-rate processing

impaired. "

So!!! It's possibly genetic like apraxia and more wide spread than

autism-just as I suspect with apraxia since apraxia overlaps in so

many other disorders as I stated above. (Does anyone know if SLI can

also " co exist " with other disorders?)

" SLI is a disorder with long-term impact it's not just a matter of

late language acquisition or something that children can grow out of.

Mabel Rice of the University of Kansas describes the 35-year-old

father of a child with SLI, a businessman in a management position.

When he sits down to complete a grammaticality judgment test, the

underlying trouble with language comes out. " He struggles over

questions that the average 7-year-old would zoom through, " Rice says.

He's able to be successful in his job, but that isn't because he has

shed his problem with language now that he's older. " Individuals who

are bright and self-aware find ways to avoid what they have trouble

with and often find ways to succeed despite their language

impairment. But not always, " Rice adds. "

So children don't " outgrow it " they learn to overcome it with

strategies, etc. like apraxia

" SLPs also are not likely to encounter the term " specific language

impairment " because the labels they use are often determined by state

eligibility criteria. Although these criteria vary from state to

state, SLI is typically absent from the educational classification

systems. "

Check. Like apraxia

" ce Leonard of Purdue University notes that children meeting

the definition of SLI have been known to clinicians and researchers

for more than 150 years. Terminology has changed over the years,

possibly giving the impression that this is a " new " disorder.

Previous terms included developmental aphasia and later developmental

dysphasia, terms that were dropped because they implied neurological

damage that could not be documented. "

Children with apraxia also used to be labeled previously with

aphasia. Some experts still don't think apraxia is neurologically

based, and some experts are now looking at the other side that all language

is neurologically based. So SLI is possibly genetic -like apraxia-

but SLI is not neurologically based...hmmm, well I'm not a doctor so

maybe that's just over my head. But from where I sit -same

controversy here except just like apraxia used to be nobody said the

emperor is naked ...yet.

" She ( " Janna Oetting of Louisiana State University says her interest

has been in the researcher-to-clinician dialogue, and she feels that

it's important to make use of the term SLI and the research behind

it. " When kids are given the general label - late talker' and get

some speech therapy, there often isn't follow-up with the parents to

talk about what to expect later. If we had more categories, there

would be more of a reason to talk. We continue with the same

treatment, which is quite appropriate, but we don't inform the public

that we know there are multiple causes for children who are late

talkers. "

So it's good to have that label at times- so you can be a better

advocate...like apraxia

" Hadley is currently working on a grant to improve the ability to

identify which late-talking children in the 2-to 3-year-old age range

will outgrow their problem. She says, " As far as what we' re going to

do clinically, we don' t need a label, but if what you as a parent

want is the nature of the condition, using a term like - language

delay' isn't t going to help you. You won' t find language only'

problems at the bookstore or on the Internet. You' ll feel like you'

re the only parent whose child has this problem. "

OK-raise your hands if you thought you were the only parent who had

this " problem "

" Rice, Hadley, and Oetting say families find it helpful to just be

able to tell people with certainty that their child is good at a lot

of things but has trouble with language. These children aren't

socially inept, lazy, or unmotivated. It helps to understand that

children come with different capacities, and that the family isn't

responsible for the language deficit.

Children who struggle with SLI say the same thing, and if there is an

SLP working with them, that validates them and gives them a source of

information and support. It's better to understand what is really

going on. Rice says that if you want to understand how a child with

SLI feels, think of the experience of being immersed in a foreign

language. " You know what you want to say, but you can't say it. You

look socially inept. You aren't stupid, but people might think you

are. "

So to answer your question Jeannie- look above! Oh wait that's for

SLI, but yes, same answer for apraxia.

Also Jeannie keep in mind that parents of late talkers may believe

that their posts will not be taken as seriously and lurk more-don't

post as much. Or maybe parents who have late talkers with other

issues just post more because there are more questions or more

therapy? All five of the moderators for this grouplist wonder too.

But you answered it your post right at the beginning. " I normally

don't post to often... and you are one of the many parents who have a

child with just apraxia! Because your question has come up before-

here is an archived post which answers more! We would love to hear

from everyone, and Jeannie, I know you and I spoke here and

personally and I for one would love to hear more from you. You have

much to share!

=====

January 6, 2002

Hi Tricia,

My son Corey was also diagnosed with verbal apraxia and has no other

problems. He was a good nurser, eats well, no drooling or sucking problem.

He was tongue-tied at birth and so we did have his tongue clipped. He has

been in ST since he was 2 1/2 and just turned 4 in November. We have seen

great progress with his speech although he is still very hard for others to

understand. He is extremely bright in fact I think he is above children his

own age in his comprehession. He understands everything and has a great

sense of humor. He does get extremely frustrated at times now when we can't

understand what he is saying. His vocabulary is probably as large as

children his own age (meaning he tries to say words that others are saying)

but his articulation is well behind. He has also started stuttering a bit

when trying to get the words out in a sentence. He can say many words

individually but to put them in a sentence is very difficult. But, we are

seeing progress and we do believe he will talk normally one day. We also

saw a ped/neuro and was told it was pure verbal apraxia. Have you started

your daughter on ProEFA? If not, I would highly recommend it. We have seen

great progress since we started supplementing Corey.

Pam

It seems that in all of the posts I read, the children have some sort

of other disability or developmental problem along with the apraxia.

Are there some children with JUST apraxia? The info I have researched

said it is rare to have " pure " apraxia, but speech therapist said it

is very common... ???

My daughter Madison was diagnosed a couple of months ago w/ verbal

apraxia. The pediatrician and speech therapist said they do not see

any other type problems. She is very intelligent, great receptive

abilities, no drooling, no eating/swallowing/sucking problems, no

sensory problems, etc. We have an appt. with a pediatric neuro. in

March (earliest we could get!) just to satisfy my worry and make sure

there is nothing else there!

January 6, 2002

hi tricia...my son was diagnosed with " pure " verbal

apraxia 8 months ago...he is now 3 and doing well with

speech...it is a slow but significant progress..he

went from being nonverbal to now with a 20-30 word

vocabulary and many approximations...like your

daughter, he has no other problems, he is receptively

and cognitively within his age...he will be starting

school soon (after an ardous task of his IEP), and

will hopefully adjust well...good luck and hope to

talk soon...joann from n.j.

>

> My daughter Madison was diagnosed a couple of months

> ago w/ verbal

> apraxia. The pediatrician and speech therapist said

> they do not see

> any other type problems. She is very intelligent,

> great receptive

> abilities, no drooling, no eating/swallowing/sucking

> problems, no

> sensory problems, etc. We have an appt. with a

> pediatric neuro. in

> March (earliest we could get!) just to satisfy my

> worry and make sure

> there is nothing else there!

>

January 6, 2002

Hi Tricia -

I read your email. I have identical twin boys. They were diagnosed at 2

with just oral apraxia but now they just have verbal apraxia. I had them in

gymnastice at 3 and they were wonderful. They can walk a balance beam,

shoot basketballs in a hoop. Nothing wrong with hearing. But they have

problems saying some words. They came a long way, early intervation and

private therapy for 3 years now and 4 days in special ed pre-school and one

day a week the school sent them in mainstream pre-school. They do have

problems with speech and are fully aware of it, but they are doing great

about 200 to 300 word vocabulary and on Pro Efa. Came a long way of

fustration and head banging (both of them) and screaming because we (my

husband and extended family and I didn't understand them. But now everything

is calming down, THANK GOD. But yep, they " only " have verbal apraxia.....JOYA

January 7, 2002

,

My son who is 4 1/2 yrs old has no other problems either. everything is

fine other than his speech

January 10, 2002

Pam, my son has verbal apraxia. Could you tell me what

ProEFA is and what its benefits are?

Thanks

in Boise

--- PJ Enterprises <pjent1@...> wrote:

> Hi Tricia,

>

> My son Corey was also diagnosed with verbal apraxia

> and has no other

> problems. He was a good nurser, eats well, no

> drooling or sucking problem.

> He was tongue-tied at birth and so we did have his

> tongue clipped. He has

> been in ST since he was 2 1/2 and just turned 4 in

> November. We have seen

> great progress with his speech although he is still

> very hard for others to

> understand. He is extremely bright in fact I think

> he is above children his

> own age in his comprehession. He understands

> everything and has a great

> sense of humor. He does get extremely frustrated at

> times now when we can't

> understand what he is saying. His vocabulary is

> probably as large as

> children his own age (meaning he tries to say words

> that others are saying)

> but his articulation is well behind. He has also

> started stuttering a bit

> when trying to get the words out in a sentence. He

> can say many words

> individually but to put them in a sentence is very

> difficult. But, we are

> seeing progress and we do believe he will talk

> normally one day. We also

> saw a ped/neuro and was told it was pure verbal

> apraxia. Have you started

> your daughter on ProEFA? If not, I would highly

> recommend it. We have seen

> great progress since we started supplementing Corey.

>

> Pam

>

January 10, 2002

Hey !!

You can read my son's story at http://www.verbaldyspraxia.com and you can see

what EFA's and Pro EFA did for him. Liz in Ga. also keeps a online diary

of her daughter Haley since she started on EFA's - very cool to read - her site

is http://kidstalkback.tripod.com/kidstalkback/

Pro EFA is an essenatial fatty acid that has both Omega 3 and Omega 6 (borage

oil). EFA's are nutrition for the brain. It is NOT a medication, but a

supplement. You would receive the same benefits if you served fish (such as

salmon or sardines). As we all know, kids eating fish is a not likley, so

taking a supplement helps. Why are so many children with autism and/or apraxia

benefiting so much from these supplements??? We don't know, that is why we are

all interested in research being done. All we do know, is many of these

children are seeing a remarkable change.

Please remember that every child is an individual, and what works for one may

not work for another. But if there is a chance it can help, why not try it???

You can search the archives at the list (go to http://www. and

get to the CHERAB listserve. You can search the archives using " EFA's, Pro EFA,

etc.) you will be amazed at the amount of information you will find!!