velopharyngeal insufficiency

[Guest guest]

The therapists believe Alec has a velopharyngeal problem. He will be

going to a team of doctors to check this out and hopefully it will be

corrected by surgery. If this is the case he will still have to have

speech therapy for a time.

I have not seen anyone here mention this condition and wondered if

anyone else has had this done. He has always been very nasal and lost

milk and baby cereal through his nose as a baby. He couldn't blow a

whistle and still can't blow his nose. He has even been checked for

this before and told he did not have the condition. There is a

procedure to watch him as he speaks and see all the movements and

vibrations and amount of closure in the palate to know just what is

going on there.

Let me know if anyone as experience with this condition.

Judi

[Guest guest]

Kim,

I have a client similar to your son who has apraxia. She's now 6 and I have

worked with her since she was 2. She had significant frustration at 2ys

whenever we tackled an oral placement exercise (OPE)-whether she could do it

or not. I had concerns that she had VPI (due to dysarthria & apraxia) but

could not examine her palate & velum at that age. Even though she loved

coming to speech, she did not want me to look in her mouth. So, we took it

slowly and worked on OPE, PROMPT and play. She has made great strides and

was finally able to tolerate getting an exam for VPI at our local hospital.

This week she is having surgery on her velum since one side retracts better

than the other. I am excited to see her in a few weeks post surgery!

So, my thoughts on your son are that his difficulties could be a combo of

VPI and apraxia. Find a good ENT who is patient w/kids (no pun intended)

and who has an SLP on staff or as part of the hospital team. Get the exam

done sooner rather than later.

Also, find an excellent SLP who is trained in the many aspects of apraxia:

graded abdominal respiration, structured oral placement exercises (Talk

Tools), PROMPT (and who will take it slowly---I can get all of my clients to

allow me-not via force-to us PROMPT on their faces), Beckman stretches, and

Kaufman technique.

Let me know what state you are in and I can help you find out where to find

the best person. J

Warmest wishes,

Barbara

Barbara A. , M.S., CCC-SLP

Executive Director/ Help Me Speak, LLC

<http://www.helpmespeak.com/> http://www.helpmespeak.com

(o) 410-442-9791 (f) 410-442-9783

2500 Wallington Way; Suite 103

Marriottsville, MD 21104

follow us on FaceBook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marriottsville-MD/Help-Me-Speak-LLC/1046288520

32

Call me with any questions about NutriiVeda! www.hms.myzrii.com

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of kallison23

Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:03 PM

Subject: [ ] Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Hi Everyone,

My son has just turned 3 and has been diagnosed with high functioning ASD

and apraxia. He's a unique case in that he does not stop talking and has

incredible language skills. Our big issue is that his articulation is

terrible (doesn't have all consonants yet) and many sounds are coming out of

his nose- mainly /S/, /F/, /CH/ and /Z/.

We've been advised to get him evaluated for a hidden cleft palate and VPI.

He does meet some of the criteria for VPI, but deep down I think it's just

mislearning from the apraxia. He developed this speech pattern early on

because I think to him, it's the closest he can some to making the above

sounds.

We will get him checked out, but I was wondering if anyone else here on the

boards have experienced this with their children and if this kind of

mislearning can be overcome.

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If we could solve this

piece of the puzzle for him, I think his articulation would improve so

dramatically. PROMPTs for these sounds have not been enough, but I think his

age has been the cause for that. He's not a huge fan of physical prompts

just yet.

Thanks so much,

Kim

[Guest guest]

tKim,

I know it's been a while since you posted about your son but I've been wanting

to respond. My son also tries to talk non-stop although he is missing parts of

words. He too was Dx with apraxia by a private SLP however but school will not

acknowledge it as such because his language skills are so far ahead. He tested

at a 6.5 yr. level for language skills. I haven't gotten very far as my

insurance won't cover ST and the school will only provide 30 min a week. It's

been very frustrating. He has been having therapy with me each day at home. Hope

you get the help you need.

________________________________

From: kallison23 <kallison23@...>

Sent: Thu, July 22, 2010 2:02:49 PM

Subject: [ ] Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Hi Everyone,

My son has just turned 3 and has been diagnosed with high functioning ASD and

apraxia. He's a unique case in that he does not stop talking and has incredible

language skills. Our big issue is that his articulation is terrible (doesn't

have all consonants yet) and many sounds are coming out of his nose- mainly /S/,

/F/, /CH/ and /Z/.

We've been advised to get him evaluated for a hidden cleft palate and VPI. He

does meet some of the criteria for VPI, but deep down I think it's just

mislearning from the apraxia. He developed this speech pattern early on because

I think to him, it's the closest he can some to making the above sounds.

We will get him checked out, but I was wondering if anyone else here on the

boards have experienced this with their children and if this kind of mislearning

can be overcome.

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If we could solve this

piece of the puzzle for him, I think his articulation would improve so

dramatically. PROMPTs for these sounds have not been enough, but I think his

age has been the cause for that. He's not a huge fan of physical prompts just

yet.

Thanks so much,

Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Are any of his sounds coming out of his nose, like an /s/ sound for instance? I

think we are headed down a similar path with the school district. We have his

IEP meeting at the end of August, but he tested way above age level for actual

language skills. My son is very OBVIOUSLY difficult to understand, yet the word

" articulation " was no where in the report! Should make for an interesting

meeting.

Kim

>

> tKim,

> I know it's been a while since you posted about your son but I've been

wanting

> to respond. My son also tries to talk non-stop although he is missing parts of

> words. He too was Dx with apraxia by a private SLP however but school will not

> acknowledge it as such because his language skills are so far ahead. He tested

> at a 6.5 yr. level for language skills. I haven't gotten very far as my

> insurance won't cover ST and the school will only provide 30 min a week. It's

> been very frustrating. He has been having therapy with me each day at home.

Hope

> you get the help you need.

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: kallison23 <kallison23@...>

>

> Sent: Thu, July 22, 2010 2:02:49 PM

> Subject: [ ] Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> My son has just turned 3 and has been diagnosed with high functioning ASD and

> apraxia. He's a unique case in that he does not stop talking and has

incredible

> language skills. Our big issue is that his articulation is terrible (doesn't

> have all consonants yet) and many sounds are coming out of his nose- mainly

/S/,

> /F/, /CH/ and /Z/.

>

> We've been advised to get him evaluated for a hidden cleft palate and VPI. He

> does meet some of the criteria for VPI, but deep down I think it's just

> mislearning from the apraxia. He developed this speech pattern early on

because

> I think to him, it's the closest he can some to making the above sounds.

>

>

> We will get him checked out, but I was wondering if anyone else here on the

> boards have experienced this with their children and if this kind of

mislearning

> can be overcome.

>

>

> Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If we could solve this

> piece of the puzzle for him, I think his articulation would improve so

> dramatically. PROMPTs for these sounds have not been enough, but I think his

> age has been the cause for that. He's not a huge fan of physical prompts just

> yet.

>

> Thanks so much,

> Kim

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

What is VPI? I know what it stands for, and that children who have it has speech

delays, but that's it.

thanks!

Crystal

>

> tKim,

> I know it's been a while since you posted about your son but I've been

wanting

> to respond. My son also tries to talk non-stop although he is missing parts of

> words. He too was Dx with apraxia by a private SLP however but school will not

> acknowledge it as such because his language skills are so far ahead. He tested

> at a 6.5 yr. level for language skills. I haven't gotten very far as my

> insurance won't cover ST and the school will only provide 30 min a week. It's

> been very frustrating. He has been having therapy with me each day at home.

Hope

> you get the help you need.

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: kallison23 <kallison23@...>

>

> Sent: Thu, July 22, 2010 2:02:49 PM

> Subject: [ ] Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> My son has just turned 3 and has been diagnosed with high functioning ASD and

> apraxia. He's a unique case in that he does not stop talking and has

incredible

> language skills. Our big issue is that his articulation is terrible (doesn't

> have all consonants yet) and many sounds are coming out of his nose- mainly

/S/,

> /F/, /CH/ and /Z/.

>

> We've been advised to get him evaluated for a hidden cleft palate and VPI. He

> does meet some of the criteria for VPI, but deep down I think it's just

> mislearning from the apraxia. He developed this speech pattern early on

because

> I think to him, it's the closest he can some to making the above sounds.

>

>

> We will get him checked out, but I was wondering if anyone else here on the

> boards have experienced this with their children and if this kind of

mislearning

> can be overcome.

>

>

> Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If we could solve this

> piece of the puzzle for him, I think his articulation would improve so

> dramatically. PROMPTs for these sounds have not been enough, but I think his

> age has been the cause for that. He's not a huge fan of physical prompts just

> yet.

>

> Thanks so much,

> Kim

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kim,

Was just thinking of you guys and I wanted to see how your IEP went? Will he

be in preschool next month? We have made great strides this summer but with some

steps ahead we seem to have some back like " R " and " L " which we had before have

become difficult now. Again, very frustrating to me.

________________________________

From: kallison23 <kallison23@...>

Sent: Wed, August 4, 2010 2:25:00 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Hi ,

Are any of his sounds coming out of his nose, like an /s/ sound for instance? I

think we are headed down a similar path with the school district. We have his

IEP meeting at the end of August, but he tested way above age level for actual

language skills. My son is very OBVIOUSLY difficult to understand, yet the word

" articulation " was no where in the report! Should make for an interesting

meeting.

Kim

>

> tKim,

> I know it's been a while since you posted about your son but I've been

wanting

>

> to respond. My son also tries to talk non-stop although he is missing parts of

> words. He too was Dx with apraxia by a private SLP however but school will not

> acknowledge it as such because his language skills are so far ahead. He tested

> at a 6.5 yr. level for language skills. I haven't gotten very far as my

> insurance won't cover ST and the school will only provide 30 min a week. It's

> been very frustrating. He has been having therapy with me each day at home.

>Hope

>

> you get the help you need.

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: kallison23 <kallison23@...>

>

> Sent: Thu, July 22, 2010 2:02:49 PM

> Subject: [ ] Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> My son has just turned 3 and has been diagnosed with high functioning ASD and

> apraxia. He's a unique case in that he does not stop talking and has

>incredible

>

> language skills. Our big issue is that his articulation is terrible (doesn't

> have all consonants yet) and many sounds are coming out of his nose- mainly

>/S/,

>

> /F/, /CH/ and /Z/.

>

> We've been advised to get him evaluated for a hidden cleft palate and VPI. He

> does meet some of the criteria for VPI, but deep down I think it's just

> mislearning from the apraxia. He developed this speech pattern early on

>because

>

> I think to him, it's the closest he can some to making the above sounds.

>

>

> We will get him checked out, but I was wondering if anyone else here on the

> boards have experienced this with their children and if this kind of

>mislearning

>

> can be overcome.

>

>

> Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If we could solve this

> piece of the puzzle for him, I think his articulation would improve so

> dramatically. PROMPTs for these sounds have not been enough, but I think his

> age has been the cause for that. He's not a huge fan of physical prompts just

> yet.

>

> Thanks so much,

> Kim

>

>

>

>

>