Re: encouragement, please-Tomatis

[Guest guest]

Hi, Tera -

You're right that many of our kids have auditory processing difficulties. I

have four boys - two delayed talkers, and two identified as communication

handicapped. The hard part, I found, is identifying where in the processing

the problem mainly lies. One of my sons, for example, speaks with some

articulation problems but is understandable. However, he has difficulty

comprehending language - like he has a dictionary of words in his head but

has trouble organizing them into meaningful language. Another, has the

language, but is very difficult to understand - even after years of speech

therapy. The other two needed some SLP assistance, but are good now.

So, in my attempt to help the two 'overcome' their problems, I also

investigated auditory processing options. Most of the programs I needed to

administer and were very expensive. And because there was no 'across the

board guarantees', the school district would not even entertain the idea

when I went to them for financing - which is why I had to relook at what I

was trying to accomplish and other paths, if any, that I could take to get

there. Each of my sons, at this point, has different speech/language needs,

but after some trial and error what one or both are doing that seems to be

fairly successful for us is: small group SP & L sessions (school district

provided) for my sons to listen to different voices and social

communication; since speech has never adequately addressed articulation

problems in any of my children, I began having them recite good, old-fashion

tongue twisters for oral-motor strengthening and tongue agility, twice daily

(still to soon to determine actual benefits); we use basic sign-language

(self-taught) with spoken words to help my son language problems with new

vocabulary, help organize his words, and ease communication frustration (one

will sign while speaking also when he gets anxious); sensory intense

clinic-held OT has been best to develop and reinforce basic neuro-system

processing (this includes auditory); and, recently I have added a

neuropsychological therapy program (addresses auditory, visual, and

proprioceptive processes independently as well as in coordination). For my

son with the most severe sensory issues, I had to wait until he was 'ready'

for this last therapy program as it is a higher-level of functional

refinement - a year ago it was too much for him.

Anyway, in case you run up with the same issues I did, I thought that I'd

pass this info on to you.

Good luck.

Patti

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