First visit with Developmental pediatrician tomorrow... Getting enough speech?

January 10, 2008

Hi there,

Two questions:

I am taking my 3 year old son to a developmental pediatrician for the

first time tomorrow and just thought Id ask if anyone has any last

minute advice?(I know its short notice)I have been told by his PT,

OT, ST and SI

(Special Instructor-music) that he is definitely apraxic. He has

global apraxia, though speech is the worst for him. He doesnt have an

actual diagnosis yet but I am hoping this doctor will give him a

diagnosis so he can maybe recieve more services.

Up until his third birthday he was recieving through BCW PT, OT, ST,

and Music 1/hr wk each, and his music thrapist focused on speech. His

insurance will not cover special instruction (music) so he lost that

a couple weeks ago when he aged out of BCW.

He just started special ed preschool this week and likes it but he is

only getting one 30 min session speech individual and one 30 min

speech as a group. He will be starting with a new ST next week I hope

for 1 hr wk but we are filing for two to see if they will approve.

Receptive he scores high and he understands everything you say to him

but expressive is very, very limited. He can only say 4 or five words

that the average person could probably understand. He does know about

60-80 signs (many he has made up himself to try and communicate)but

he is so far behind I think he needs Speech 4 to 5 days a week to

really help him. Is this something that anyone else has been able to

get on insurance alone or does most everyone private pay for

additional services? What should I expect insurance to pay?

I think the therapy he gets through the school is probably going to

be minimally helpful.

I have heard/ read that age 3-4 yrs is a crucial point for apraxic

kids to learn speech and I dont want him to miss any opportunity to

catch up. Any advice or others experinces are appreciated.

Mom to Zach, 3 and Callan, 1yr

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