Guest guest Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Below is a new member archived message, and an " EFA 101 basics " archived message to hopefully answer more of your questions for now (did you read The Late Talker yet?) For updated information on vitamin E and more - please visit the links section here /links What type of apraxic like speech behaviors are you seeing that makes you and the SLP suspect your child has apraxia vs. a simple delay in speech? Is your child talking at all yet? At your child's age - without speech, it's difficult to diagnose verbal apraxia -they could " suspect " verbal apraxia and begin treatment just in case, which wouldn't hurt your child if he ended up just having a simple delay. Just a few questions before we could provide more accurate answers: Does your child have signs of oral apraxia? (for example, can he on command smile, imitate funny faces, blow bubbles...if you put peanut butter anywhere around his mouth can he lick it off no matter where it is?) http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/oralapraxia.html Does your child have any neurological " soft signs " such as hypotonia or sensory integration dysfunction? http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/parentfriendlysoftsigns.html Who else evaluated your child? Was it only the SLP through your town school or was he also in Early Intervention through the state? (birth to three) Was he evaluated by both a speech pathologist as well as an occupational therapist? Was/were they knowledgeable about apraxia? (If your child wasn't diagnosed by an occupational therapist as well and professionals suspect apraxia -I highly recommend you request that too either through both the school as well as private through insurance for many reasons) To answer any questions you may have about taking your child to see a neurodevelopmental MD if he has not yet been to one and apraxia is suspected... in one word - " Yes!!! " I would have your child diagnosed (private) by a neurodevelopmental medical doctor (developmental pediatrician or pediatric neurologist) who is knowledgeable about apraxia and other neurologically based multi-faceted communication impairments for numerous reasons. Reasons include (but not limited to) *having a " hero " on the outside of the school who can assist in a therapeutic plan and oversee your child's development over the years *advocacy support with the insurance company * ruling out or confirming any neurological soft signs or any other reasons for the delay in speech *help those that ask " why isn't he talking yet " understand this is a medical condition -and has nothing to do with your child's cognitive ability. (if in your child's case it doesn't. Apraxia in itself does not affect a child's cognitive ability -and speaking early or late is no indication of a child's intelligence. Also contrary to popular belief -most who have speech impairments have average to above average intelligence) Here's an article written by Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician Dr. Marilyn Agin that was featured as a cover article in Contemporary Pediatrics - a trade magazine for hundreds of thousands of pediatric medical professionals across the US. (I wrote the parent guide) " The " late talker " -when silence isn't golden Not all children with delayed speech are " little Einsteins " or garden variety " late bloomers. " Some have a speech-language disorder that will persist unless warning signs are recognized and intervention comes early. Includes a Guide for Parents. " Cover feature article by Late Talker co-author Marilyn Agin MD http://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/contpeds/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=1327\ 20 Parent guide of article by Late Talker co-author Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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