Is Apraxia growing, or am I just becoming more aware?

[Guest guest]

Honestly, before my son's eval, I never heard the word apraxia.

Obviously, most of the people (family/ friends) that I've spoken to

since hadn't heard of it either. But between a few mom's groups in

the area, my best friend and I realized that between us we personally

know 8 children with apraxia of speech. This is only maybe 300 women

in 3 moms groups across NJ - not counting children from my son's

therapy, kids in my daughter's preschool disabled class, etc. How

many more children can be out there if this is in such a small circle?

While I understand this is nothing like autism when it comes to

severity or sheer numbers diagnosed, it made me wonder... Most people

never heard of autism until Rain Man. Now, awareness is everywhere.

Why oh why have most people never heard of apraxia? (And no,

Radcliffe's " well, I couldn't tie my shoes " does NOT count in my

eyes. Not to discount his ability to make people aware, but it's so

much more than that).

I guess this is more of a vent than anything, because I don't know

where to go next with apraxia awareness... I've just discovered they

do make a ribbon for it (at apraxia-kids.org), but other than that

and a few t-shirts, the word doesn't get out like it does with other

disorders. What is there to do? Hopefully one day it will get the

attention and help it deserves.