Appropriat Speech Therapy For My Son

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I am at that place again where I need to intervene on behalf of my son, and

analyze/discuss the appropriateness of his therapy.

First of all, this is a new SLP for him (2 months), and she's incredibly sweet.

She's nice and respectful of my son as well.....so there's not complaints on a

personal level. However, she knows very little about apraxia I am finding out.

I thought she was more knowledgeable for she is trained in PROMPT and had worked

with my son on a few occasions in the past when his former therapist was on

vacation. At that time, her approach seemed appropriate. However, at this time

-- since he's three y.o. -- her approach seems very different. It appears to me

that she's trying to teach him concepts such as 'in front' 'behind' etc.....and

she's eliciting very little speech from him. She's asking a lot of 'yes' 'no'

questions. I am not a trained slp, but this approach seems inappropriate to me.

She said that she was focusing on modeling rather than skill and drill. I

briefly discussed this approach with the therapist that he sees at the local

college, and she agreed with me. She is a student, but her approach is very

different, and she's monitored during therapy sessions by a camera (watched by

a supervisor), so she receives feedback and an analysis of her approach weekly.

Can anyone give me any feedback on this. Does anyone have feedback on the

technique that the slp is using (i.e. making puzzles, learning concepts,

eliciting very little speech, modeling). Is this a technique?? Or is this just

her style? Since my son has apraxia, I'm going to push for more oral motr (she

does some), some skill and drill, then practice extending sentences through

interaction and play. Is this the appropriate therapy for apraxic children? I

want to be informed before I discuss this with her.

Thank You

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[Guest guest]

GET A DIFFERENT ST!!! she is supposed to know what to do not you telling her,

or you would be his st. not to sound harsh but you dont want to pay for your

child to be someone's test subject. and you are not going to get results this

way. she needs to be aggressive with his speech.-darcy

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Hanagan <hanagan_8@...>

Hi Everyone,

I am at that place again where I need to intervene on behalf of my son, and

analyze/discuss the appropriateness of his therapy.

First of all, this is a new SLP for him (2 months), and she's incredibly sweet.

She's nice and respectful of my son as well.....so there's not complaints on a

personal level. However, she knows very little about apraxia I am finding out. I

thought she was more knowledgeable for she is trained in PROMPT and had worked

with my son on a few occasions in the past when his former therapist was on

vacation. At that time, her approach seemed appropriate. However, at this time

-- since he's three y.o. -- her approach seems very different. It appears to me

that she's trying to teach him concepts such as 'in front' 'behind' etc.....and

she's eliciting very little speech from him. She's asking a lot of 'yes' 'no'

questions. I am not a trained slp, but this approach seems inappropriate to me.

She said that she was focusing on modeling rather than skill and drill. I

briefly discussed this approach with the therapist that he sees at the local

college, and she agreed with me. She is a student, bu

t her approach is very different, and she's monitored during therapy sessions by

a camera (watched by a supervisor), so she receives feedback and an analysis of

her approach weekly.

Can anyone give me any feedback on this. Does anyone have feedback on the

technique that the slp is using (i.e. making puzzles, learning concepts,

eliciting very little speech, modeling). Is this a technique?? Or is this just

her style? Since my son has apraxia, I'm going to push for more oral motr (she

does some), some skill and drill, then practice extending sentences through

interaction and play. Is this the appropriate therapy for apraxic children? I

want to be informed before I discuss this with her.

Thank You

__________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

You're right, Darcy. I've given this at least 1 1/2 months, and I'm not

wittnessing services appropriate for apraxia. At first, I felt she needed time

to adjust to working with him, but as time has passed, things are not

changing......This is so frustrating, too. Finding quality therapists have been

a tough on to say the least.

Thanks

>

> GET A DIFFERENT ST!!! she is supposed to know what to do not you telling

her, or you would be his st. not to sound harsh but you dont want to pay for

your child to be someone's test subject. and you are not going to get results

this way. she needs to be aggressive with his speech.-darcy

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> From: Hanagan <hanagan_8@...>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I am at that place again where I need to intervene on behalf of my son, and

analyze/discuss the appropriateness of his therapy.

>

> First of all, this is a new SLP for him (2 months), and she's incredibly

sweet. She's nice and respectful of my son as well.....so there's not complaints

on a personal level. However, she knows very little about apraxia I am finding

out. I thought she was more knowledgeable for she is trained in PROMPT and had

worked with my son on a few occasions in the past when his former therapist was

on vacation. At that time, her approach seemed appropriate. However, at this

time -- since he's three y.o. -- her approach seems very different. It appears

to me that she's trying to teach him concepts such as 'in front' 'behind'

etc.....and she's eliciting very little speech from him. She's asking a lot of

'yes' 'no' questions. I am not a trained slp, but this approach seems

inappropriate to me. She said that she was focusing on modeling rather than

skill and drill. I briefly discussed this approach with the therapist that he

sees at the local college, and she agreed with me. She is a student, bu

> t her approach is very different, and she's monitored during therapy sessions

by a camera (watched by a supervisor), so she receives feedback and an analysis

of her approach weekly.

>

> Can anyone give me any feedback on this. Does anyone have feedback on the

technique that the slp is using (i.e. making puzzles, learning concepts,

eliciting very little speech, modeling). Is this a technique?? Or is this just

her style? Since my son has apraxia, I'm going to push for more oral motr (she

does some), some skill and drill, then practice extending sentences through

interaction and play. Is this the appropriate therapy for apraxic children? I

want to be informed before I discuss this with her.

>

> Thank You

>

>

[Guest guest]

send me an email outside and i will give you some ideas-darcy

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Hanagan <hanagan_8@...>

You're right, Darcy. I've given this at least 1 1/2 months, and I'm not

wittnessing services appropriate for apraxia. At first, I felt she needed time

to adjust to working with him, but as time has passed, things are not

changing......This is so frustrating, too. Finding quality therapists have been

a tough on to say the least.

Thanks

>

> GET A DIFFERENT ST!!! she is supposed to know what to do not you telling her,

or you would be his st. not to sound harsh but you dont want to pay for your

child to be someone's test subject. and you are not going to get results this

way. she needs to be aggressive with his speech.-darcy

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> From: Hanagan <hanagan_8@...>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I am at that place again where I need to intervene on behalf of my son, and

analyze/discuss the appropriateness of his therapy.

>

> First of all, this is a new SLP for him (2 months), and she's incredibly

sweet. She's nice and respectful of my son as well.....so there's not complaints

on a personal level. However, she knows very little about apraxia I am finding

out. I thought she was more knowledgeable for she is trained in PROMPT and had

worked with my son on a few occasions in the past when his former therapist was

on vacation. At that time, her approach seemed appropriate. However, at this

time -- since he's three y.o. -- her approach seems very different. It appears

to me that she's trying to teach him concepts such as 'in front' 'behind'

etc.....and she's eliciting very little speech from him. She's asking a lot of

'yes' 'no' questions. I am not a trained slp, but this approach seems

inappropriate to me. She said that she was focusing on modeling rather than

skill and drill. I briefly discussed this approach with the therapist that he

sees at the local college, and she agreed with me. She is a student,

bu

> t her approach is very different, and she's monitored during therapy sessions

by a camera (watched by a supervisor), so she receives feedback and an analysis

of her approach weekly.

>

> Can anyone give me any feedback on this. Does anyone have feedback on the

technique that the slp is using (i.e. making puzzles, learning concepts,

eliciting very little speech, modeling). Is this a technique?? Or is this just

her style? Since my son has apraxia, I'm going to push for more oral motr (she

does some), some skill and drill, then practice extending sentences through

interaction and play. Is this the appropriate therapy for apraxic children? I

want to be informed before I discuss this with her.

>

> Thank You

>

>

[Guest guest]

in situations like this follow your gut. You know much more

than you are letting on about what is appropriate therapy. Your

son's issues are not receptive they are expressive and that's what

this SLP should be working on. I'm not sure why you are seeing a

student. Nothing wrong with that as complimentary therapy- but

what's up with that? Is she the main therapist for your child? Who

is paying for this service?

You know I always say sweet, nice whatever has nothing to do with

it. Most of the therapists that work with children are very caring

people. But if that's all we needed in a therapist we could drop our

apraxic children off with their grandparents for an hour a day. You

can say to her supervisor. " Jane is a very nice person and she is

very sweet with my son . I'm sure she'd be a wonderful

therapist to work with a child with a simple delay in speech, but she

doesn't appear to have the experience needed to work with a child

with a more complex speech impairment like my son. Since she started

with him 2 months ago I've observed her therapy sessions and they are

not directed toward his specific speech therapy needs and thus have

noticed no improvements. That greatly concerns me (and my husband).

Due to this I'd like to request a speech therapist who has more

experience in working with apraxia " Or just find one yourself.

Again I don't know the situation.

You were very wise not to let more than a month or so go by before

pointing this out. You should never let more than 3 months go by

without checking progress. If none therapy, therapist, or diagnosis

should be examined.

Due to the celebrity person in California I have a list of

professionals that are highly recommended from various areas of your

state. Let's talk this week!

And I said it up front -but worth repeating -follow that mommy gut.

=====

[Guest guest]

I often wondering why some of these people become speech therapists,

when they are more interesting in teaching concepts and general

knowledge to the kids. ly, at three years old, they should have

a least some grasp on those concepts (e.g. in front of, etc.), but

you aren't really there to learn that -- you need to learn how to get

the words out! And clearly articulated, too, if you are at that

point.

This is just my opinion, but that kind of " speech " therapy should

come after working on oral-motor exercises, learning to make sounds

and blends, and getting what he can say into the motor memory so it

comes out right every time. Later, you can add concepts, sequencing

activities, and so forth, while you work on the remaining, lesser

speech production issues. As a parent, it is more difficult to

do " speech " therapy at home than it is to do " language " therapy.

Does that make sense, or does it muddy the waters?

in NJ

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I am at that place again where I need to intervene on behalf of my

son, and analyze/discuss the appropriateness of his therapy.

>

> First of all, this is a new SLP for him (2 months), and she's

incredibly sweet. She's nice and respectful of my son as well.....so

there's not complaints on a personal level. However, she knows very

little about apraxia I am finding out. I thought she was more

knowledgeable for she is trained in PROMPT and had worked with my son

on a few occasions in the past when his former therapist was on

vacation. At that time, her approach seemed appropriate. However,

at this time -- since he's three y.o. -- her approach seems very

different. It appears to me that she's trying to teach him concepts

such as 'in front' 'behind' etc.....and she's eliciting very little

speech from him. She's asking a lot of 'yes' 'no' questions. I am

not a trained slp, but this approach seems inappropriate to me. She

said that she was focusing on modeling rather than skill and drill. I

briefly discussed this approach with the therapist that he sees at

the local college, and she agreed with me. She is a student, but her

approach is very different, and she's monitored during therapy

sessions by a camera (watched by a supervisor), so she receives

feedback and an analysis of her approach weekly.

>

> Can anyone give me any feedback on this. Does anyone have feedback

on the technique that the slp is using (i.e. making puzzles, learning

concepts, eliciting very little speech, modeling). Is this a

technique?? Or is this just her style? Since my son has apraxia, I'm

going to push for more oral motr (she does some), some skill and

drill, then practice extending sentences through interaction and

play. Is this the appropriate therapy for apraxic children? I want

to be informed before I discuss this with her.

>

> Thank You

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

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>

>

[Guest guest]

Have you asked the new therapist why she is teaching him the

concepts? Why she is (for now) putting less importance on

articulation? Why she feels teaching him concepts is important right

now? Do you think your child understands " up " , " over " , " under " , etc?

You don't need to agree or disagree with the therapist when you just

ask her why she is doing this exercise with your son, or what

progress she is hoping for. You can think about her answers when you

come home and check again with other people.

My now 7yo boy also started with a lot of articulation (since he was

18 months). As he grew older (and he began to speak somewhat

clearer), we found that we had put so much emphasis on articulation

of single sounds and single words (the " speech " part in SLP) that he

was way behind in both understanding and using concepts and

vocabulary and in grammar, sentence building etc (the " language " part

in SLP). For the last 6 months his therapy has also shifted to

include more of these things, but still contains a lot of

articulation drill as well.

I must say though that my son has also gotten a diagnosis of

Aspergers (possible PDD-NOS, waiting further testing) about a year

ago, and that his IQ tested in the low average (this may be why he

has trouble with vocabulary and concepts, or is this something other

children with " only " verbal apraxia have too?). So your son may not

have the same needs as my son.

If you ask the therapist why, maybe you can understand her reasons.

Or maybe she will discover for herself that there is no reason for

teaching your son these things right now and that he needs more

articulation practise first. Or you could address your concerns about

meeting all the needs your child has.

Another thought is that since she works for the school district, she

probably is more used to working on academic language skills as well

as on articulation. She may try to get your child ready for math

concepts used in early school environments, but it should not be the

only thing she is working on. Or maybe she wants to leave the oral

motor stuff for your childs other therapist? Just thinking out loud

here.

Since you and your son like her personality, you may want to invest

in sorting this out with her before changing therapists.

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I am at that place again where I need to intervene on behalf of my

son, and analyze/discuss the appropriateness of his therapy.

>

> First of all, this is a new SLP for him (2 months), and she's

incredibly sweet. She's nice and respectful of my son as well.....so

there's not complaints on a personal level. However, she knows very

little about apraxia I am finding out. I thought she was more

knowledgeable for she is trained in PROMPT and had worked with my son

on a few occasions in the past when his former therapist was on

vacation. At that time, her approach seemed appropriate. However,

at this time -- since he's three y.o. -- her approach seems very

different. It appears to me that she's trying to teach him concepts

such as 'in front' 'behind' etc.....and she's eliciting very little

speech from him. She's asking a lot of 'yes' 'no' questions. I am

not a trained slp, but this approach seems inappropriate to me. She

said that she was focusing on modeling rather than skill and drill. I

briefly discussed this approach with the therapist that he sees at

the local college, and she agreed with me. She is a student, but her

approach is very different, and she's monitored during therapy

sessions by a camera (watched by a supervisor), so she receives

feedback and an analysis of her approach weekly.

>

> Can anyone give me any feedback on this. Does anyone have feedback

on the technique that the slp is using (i.e. making puzzles, learning

concepts, eliciting very little speech, modeling). Is this a

technique?? Or is this just her style? Since my son has apraxia, I'm

going to push for more oral motr (she does some), some skill and

drill, then practice extending sentences through interaction and

play. Is this the appropriate therapy for apraxic children? I want

to be informed before I discuss this with her.

>

> Thank You

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Make i'm yours.  Create a custom banner to support your cause.

> http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Contribute/Default.aspx?

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>

>