Re:foreign language instruction for apraxic kids

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm not sure about every child but it can get

better. my son started out at 2 years of age, we have

had him on various supplements and we work with a DAN

but not specifically following the DAN protocol. He

was " moderate to severe " apraxic and still is...

however he has improved so much - and he knows some

spanish and french. We have not focused on the other

languages but my hubby is quebecois and speaks several

languages... We provide as much as exposure as we can

to both our boys. they understand and can use some

words. one thing, when you are first starting out

with apraxic child the SLP recommend to get them

started in one language then add others once they

reach a certain point of understandability, at least,

that what we were told by more than one SLP.

If you want to chat about your biomed program, just

email me at amesw@...

amy o

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[Guest guest]

My son was a late talker, apraxic, but mild in

comparison to his sister. At 2, we finally just

started having him hear only english in the house, as

that is what we were instructed to do. He started to

talk pretty well by 3. We moved and changed

pediatriians, and they said that it was a shame that

we stopped spanish in the home as his ear would have

been picking it up eventhough he was not speaking.

SInce about 3.5 yo, we restarted spanish in the

house.....I do all tapes, music in spanish.... and he

is picking it up. Anyway, it can't hurt the brain, so

don't give up. My niece, who is not apraxic, but a

late talker too, is 8yo now and goes to a blingual

school in Mexico (half classes in english, half in

spanish) and she does outstanding!

Don't give up the dream.Kathy

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[Guest guest]

Isn't the real truth that so much is possible for all of these

kids...it just never comes to them on our clock? I still believe

anything is possible and the dreams are necessary, to have a goal to

reach for and to stay sane.

>

> My son was a late talker, apraxic, but mild in

> comparison to his sister. At 2, we finally just

> started having him hear only english in the house, as

> that is what we were instructed to do. He started to

> talk pretty well by 3. We moved and changed

> pediatriians, and they said that it was a shame that

> we stopped spanish in the home as his ear would have

> been picking it up eventhough he was not speaking.

> SInce about 3.5 yo, we restarted spanish in the

> house.....I do all tapes, music in spanish.... and he

> is picking it up. Anyway, it can't hurt the brain, so

> don't give up. My niece, who is not apraxic, but a

> late talker too, is 8yo now and goes to a blingual

> school in Mexico (half classes in english, half in

> spanish) and she does outstanding!

>

> Don't give up the dream.Kathy

>

>

>

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> Looking for last minute shopping deals?

> Find them fast with Search.

http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

>

[Guest guest]

I had asked this question any times. Here is my experience on the subject:

My son is 3. He only has been diagnosed with verbal apraxia. Therefore no OT

has been necessary. My husband speaks Spanish to him as do his brothers

sometimes. My brother is deaf so I signed to my kids (even before I knew my

youngest was apraxic.) When I finally called Infant Learning to have my youngest

evaluated at 20 months they had recommended I stop all forms of communication

besides English. In my heart, I just couldn't do it. He depended on sign

language to communicate with us and wouldn't learn new words/concepts unless I

signed to him. It also didn't seem fair that he should not have the cultural

identity he brothers had to his father's side of the family. So we basically

ignored the advice given.

When he went into see a private SLP at at 27 months, although she stated the

normal course of action was to speak in English only to him (and to use whatever

manual/pictorial options the family was comfortable with until speech became

clearer) she wasn't going to recommend it in our case. He was not trying in

imitate any Spanish words ( he would try to answer in English) yet but could

respond to requests and demonstrate understanding in the

language. She was going to take a wait and see approach. If his English sounds

seemed to not progress enough to her expectations and previous experience with

apraxic kids from both bilingual and monolingual households then she would

change her recommendations.

In October, I went to WA for an Apraxia conference and met with several SLP's

from CA who were also attending. Many were bilingual and worked with bilingual

apraxic kids (Spanish speakers). After speaking to them many gave me this as

their observations. Spanish has more vowel sounds in their words and less blends

making it easier to speak but then at the same time the words tend to be longer

making the motor planning problem an even bigger issue. Most of the kids they

worked with would eventually choose to speak in English because they found it

easier. I also spoke with a woman who spoke French/English. She was another

parent and said that she found it helpful having her daughter (7 yrs old) know 2

languages. When her daughter found a word difficult to say in English shes would

sometimes choose the French word instead (and vise verse).

So after hearing this information this is the plan we have come up with for

our child:

He son is now in preschool. He has 15% intelligibility according to his

transitioning IEP. We continue to speak Spanish to him and our plans are to have

him attend the Spanish immersion elementary school (half day in English, half

day in Spanish)when he enters Kindergarten like his brothers currently are. We

are slowly using less sign language and adding Cued Speech to his therapy. With

Cued Speech (for English)we are hoping that the visual cues of the sounds will

then be able to transfer over to the Spanish later one. With a few minor

adjustments the same Cued Speech could be used for learning to speak in Spanish

more clearly. Currently there is no bilingual private SLP's near me. Our hope

is to hire the kindergarten aide in my middle son's class as a private SLP. She

was an SLP in Columbia before coming to the US.

He continues to listen to songs in Spanish, watch videos in Spanish and listen

to books read to him in Spanish. My my MIL just left after visiting for 2 weeks.

She only speaks Spanish. As we dropped her off at the airport my youngest

attempted to say " adios abuela'. It wasn't clear by any means. ( something like

'ah oh uh a uh') It sounded a lot like how my son was speaking in English about

this time last year. My MIL was excited obviously but the one who was even more

excited was my husband, knowing that our efforts may one day pay off.

Although no one can tell us the future outcome of our child (or anyone else's

for that matter) and our plans aren't set in stone this is what we see for now

as the best for our son. If nothing else his IEP will state that he is allowed

to answer in English (to be best of his ability) during the Spanish half of the

day. There is no reason why he can't learn to understand and write in another

language if his only issue is verbal apraxia.

I hope my experience helps you make your up your own mind about whether to

continue with bilingualism. Good Luck in your decision.

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