Re: somewhat new to apraxia

[Guest guest]

My son is five and he has what I would call severe apraxia and is also on

the autism spectrum. My son has 10 words at the most and sometimes they are

clear sometimes not. He has a high self esteem, so I am lucky. I also worry

about how my son will do in school. From what his Early intervention teachers

tell me he is doing great, he uses a pecs book along with trying to verbalize.

No one knows what the future holds for any of our children, even those

without challenges. I try to stay in the day that I am in, if I go to far out

into

the future I just make myself sick with worry. Don't give up don't ever feel

like you are alone, it is a marathon not a sprint, meaning it could take

many years. Jen

In a message dated 4/9/2009 8:53:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

relynn27@... writes:

My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with

others...he will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk

to

them that well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't

think I saw how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any

feedback would be great!!!!

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[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I read your post and I can complete relate. My 28 month old son has severe

apraxia and I am also a first grade teacher. I also start to panic when I think

about my little one in school, but we just have to take it one day at a time.

It's hard, I know but you don't know where what stage he is going to be in 3

years from now. So try to focus on

the present.

Take care,

Liz

>

> My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

Have you seen any kids in your school with this disability? I haven't taught in

6 years and I taught severe kids in a special ed school. So, I don't know much

about the public school. I just wonder how the school meets the needs of kids

with severe verbal disabilities.

________________________________

From: jonahsmommyanddaddy <jonahsmommyanddaddy@...>

Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2009 5:41:39 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: somewhat new to apraxia

Hi there,

I read your post and I can complete relate. My 28 month old son has severe

apraxia and I am also a first grade teacher. I also start to panic when I think

about my little one in school, but we just have to take it one day at a time.

It's hard, I know but you don't know where what stage he is going to be in 3

years from now. So try to focus on

the present.

Take care,

Liz

>

> My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

I think a better question would behow they don't and ways we can fix this.

Just my opinion.

I am still waiting or looking for the response about how to get 4 1/2 hours/day

sign language on the IEP.

> >

> > My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Can I ask...how was it determined that your son's apraxia is severe? I am unable

to get any type of input as to whether my child's apraxia is mild, moderate, or

severe (not to mention a prognosis). What are the indicators for the level of

serverity?

Thanks.

Tracey

>

> My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

A Kaufman Praxis Test administered to your child will give you this

answer.

> >

> > My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

at over 4yrs old...my daughter was only saying 10 words--she communicated mostly

by signing. that was one indicator of severe for the neurologist.

>

> Can I ask...how was it determined that your son's apraxia is severe? I am

unable to get any type of input as to whether my child's apraxia is mild,

moderate, or severe (not to mention a prognosis). What are the indicators for

the level of serverity?

[Guest guest]

A doctor did not tell us if our girls were severe or mild. We realized that at 3

years old one of our daughters was not talking at all and called it severe on

our own. She is 5 now and still only has a few words. her twin sister had a few

words at 3, we thought she was moderate at the time. Now at 5, she is a

chatterbox! She still has some patterning problems and some words are hard to

understand.

I hope this helps some???

> >

> > My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,Pardon the intrusion, but do you mind sharing if there is any family

history (anyone in the family) with a neurological disorder? I am exploring

something on my own and I am trying to figure out a basis for it. Since you have

twins, and both exhibit signs, this leads me to what I am hunting for; many

heritable things discovered with twins. J

I will certainly let the group know of any discoveries I uncover.

> > >

> > > My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I am a worried mom, too. My daughter is about to turn three. She has no regular

words, but some word approximations. We have a global dyspraxia dx, but not

apraxia, yet. I also used to teach and I know how hard it can be for kids who

are different. Particularly in public school.

A couple things help me. One is that I know a second-grader with verbal apraxia

who goes to an alternative charter school. He is well liked and has a good sense

of self/ self-esteem. He can speak, but most people have difficulty

understanding him. The other thing that helps me is knowing that if I am not

comfortable with our school options, I can homeschool my daughter. There is a

lot of support for homeschooling in our community.

Do some research into your child's schooling options. Are there any special

speech and language schools in your area? Are there small charter schools or

private schools that might be more supportive than a regular public school. Is

homeschooling an option for you?

I know it is hard, but keep in mind that your son is only three. Time is on his

side. Continue to search for answers. Continue to be involved with his therapy.

Continue to have fun and just enjoy him. Too much worry will affect both of you.

These are the things I tell myself.

Take Care.

>

> My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

I would not worry about low self esteem at 3yrs old. My 7dd 2nd grader has

severe Apraxia. She went from a special needs preschool where she was very

sheltered and protected from any thing that would lower her self esteem--no

teasing--only other kids just like her and some kids with much worse challenges!

So when it was time to transfer to our school district- I was also terrified of

what being with typical kids would do to her self-esteem. Her K teacher told me

before school started that summer- don't worry- I'm just as protective of my

kids as any mother would be--she is in a self-contained class and on a little

bus- which most kids know means special needs. But the little bus only means-

its not our home school- so they have to bring her there. If it was our home

school- she'd probably be on the big bus--in the front seat!!

She has grown up with the kids in the school. She has recess with them, eats

lunch with them, does music and art with all the mainstream classes or her

grade. They just see her as one of the kids. The parents? they are a different

story!

Last year- her 1st Grade Mainstream teacher had a " Student of the Week " for the

whole school year. They saved my dd and the other kids from her self-contained

class for the end of the year. I answered a questoinaire about her favorite

things, people, movies and things to do. Than each child sits in front of the

class- and they are all able to ask questions. getting ready for public speaking

early!! Here are some comments about my daughter made by the other kids-- she

loves her family, she has a cute smile, she's fun to play with at recess,she

loves dogs, she is pretty, she has a cute smile... I got a lamintated poster

with all those comments that the teacher put together.

On self-esteem: all I can say is its what you make of it. My dd is the happiest,

well-liked kid I have ever known. She knows more people in town than I do!! My

school district is very accomodating and they do everything they can for all the

special needs kids in our school.

>

> Have you seen any kids in your school with this disability? I haven't taught

in 6 years and I taught severe kids in a special ed school. So, I don't know

much about the public school. I just wonder how the school meets the needs of

kids with severe verbal disabilities.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh trust me I think we all worry the same thing. I know I did. What I can tell

you from a down the road standpoint is that while we can teach our children, and

provide appropriate therapy -self esteem is as you know something that is very

difficult to repair once damaged so do all you can to protect it. I did that by

observing my children around other children as both were " late talkers " While

my older son Dakota thrived in large groups of children -my younger son Tanner

withdrew off to the side and did much better with one on one playdates. Arrange

playdates with some of the other mothers of the children in his preschool class.

I also signed both my boys up to Karate where in private I explained that there

was some speech/motor planning issues for Tanner. He had a " shadow " in the

school which stood by him to assist him if he needed it -and he LOVED it. They

are always giving out awards, medals, certificates -and my boys proudly

displayed and shared these with everyone they met. You can purchase these

awards for them too! And you would think that Karate class with the shadow was

expensive right? Nope they didn't charge me any extra for that as the shadow

would be there anyway but when Tanner was there stood by him. They did have

private classes for those children that are more disabled that couldn't be in a

regular class...but in comparison for what I paid for a 1/2 hour of speech

therapy (which at the time was around 100 bucks) Karate was a steal!

So in a nutshell find activities that your son can excel in that don't involve

or require speech or much speech. Think Gameboy or some other video games.

It's a huge aspect for socialization to get him together with others his age now

and as he grows. We did involve Tanner in sports too -we started with soccer.

However due to his hypotonia the first half of the game would always be much

easier for him then the second half as he's be so pooped.

If he is severe make sure he's receiving the amount of one on one speech therapy

that is appropriate for him.

The following chart is used to determine how severe a speech problem is and thus

how much therapy would be appropriate. It was originally developed for school

based SLPs.

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/therapymatrix.html

One other thing is to withhold kindergarten until he turns 6 years old. I know

that 3 years from now seems like an eternity away but if he's severe apraxic

that extra year will provide an extra year of appropriate therapies as well as

developmental time.

My son has always had a high self esteem -and still does. Again -make sure you

protect it and nurture it as he grows no matter what!

=====

[Guest guest]

I saw this today. Thought it might interest you. If you are not signed up with

this website yet I would recommend it. It has great info. Good luck! Crystal

http://www.examiner.com/x-608-Early-Childhood-Parenting-Examiner~y2009m3d23-Does\

-your-child-have-a-speech-delay-Could-it-be-childhood-apraxia

>

> My soon to be 3 year old has severe apraxia. Even though he's been getting

services for several months I am a very worried mom. I can't find enough info

that tells what his future will be like in school or community as he grows. I

use to be a teacher so I am so worried about his socialization with others...he

will probably have low self esteem because he won't be able to talk to them that

well. I'm also worried about how he's going to do school. I don't think I saw

how serious this is until now...I've been in denial. Please...any feedback would

be great!!!!

>