Verbal Apraxia

[Guest guest]

Hi - I have never written, but have enjoyed reading everyones text.

I will give you a little bit about myself. We live in Panama City,

Florida - married, mother of 3 beautiful girls. The ages 4,5 & 6.

Yes very blessed. The youngest " could " have verbal apraxia. She has

all of the signs. Living in a smaller town, I believe that is where

our problem was just not detected early on. Eventhough, I was VERY

persistent mentioning her language/vocabulary at all wellcheck

appointments; but, that is a whole other story in our lives.

She is currently enrolled in the public school system with an IEP.

We are happy with the care she is receiving at school. The

atmosphere, class - everything is acceptable, but of course I wish

there were more they could do. She is currently receiving only

group sessions, but she does get 3-30 minutes a week. She will be

able to receive 6 -30 minute sessions this summer. My husbands

insurances only allows 30 sessions, so we are going to wait until

summer to help her not regress.

Our pediatrition referred us to a pediatric neuroligist in

Pensacola/Gulf Breeze area. I was very nervous, but came prepared

with my IEP's from school and your book " The Late Talker " in hand.

I thought I was ready for anything. The doctor was running late -

emergency at the hospital, so we waited in the room for his

arrival. The room was very geared for children, so I was pleasantly

surprised. The doctor arrived wearing clown shoes and a

spongebob tie. Ok, I'm getting nervous, but this is a pediatric

practice and I'm sure the kids ate this up. He was very nice, no

problem there. He was asking all questions relating to autism -

siezures, flapping, lining up cars - it kept going, I kept saying

no, no, no - like a broken record. I couldn't get a word in, then

finally he asked, so what brings you here? Ok - here's my chance -

L is possible apraxic, she just turned 4 - she has a vocabulary of

MAYBE 25 - luckily 50 words - Only maybe 5 clear, no sentences -

could say a word beautifully, but not be able to repeat the same

word. L doesn't have beginning sounds or ending sounds, MaMa was the

first word, but when she started saying DaDa - she lost MaMa. We now

do have that back. Her words that are understood and clear : yes,

no, Momma, Daddy (sometimes still DaDa), LaLa (sister), Jules (the

dog) pronuced Ju. The school system has started " some " sign language

to help her communicate more fluently, as we have also at home. She

did have an " EEG " before we left the office and he requested a MRI

and a chromosone study before our returning. He kept saying apraxia

is developmental. That I know is not true. Now I know wrong doctor,

but maybe I can get some sort of answer with any tests he will

offer.

It appears no one, will give us the " verbal apraxia " DX. When

starting her in school (just turned 3) I went saying I believe this

is the case. Now, the last IEP - patholgist feels the same way.

She's been in speech for over 20 years, coming from Atlanta - and

never has had a case just like ours. But of course, nothing written

in her IEP to state this.

I have a few questions, I was hoping someone could answer.

1- Is the Dx neccesary?

2- Will it open up more doors for her?

3- Will the MRI tell us anything we don't already know?

4- Is the chromosone test neccesary?

5- I have started her (3 weeks now) on Nature's Plus Omega 3/6/9. It

has a higher DHA(200mg)to EPA(100mg). She said her first

sentence " I got it " very plain - so I really think this is a break

through. In your book you state better results with ProEFA. On page

111 it mention giving a 3000mg Omega 3 capsule. Is this just

increasing the dose to 3 capsules of the ProEPA or is this something else?

I (her mother) was very shy, didn't talk and went to speech for

years. No one else in the family has any concerns with language

development. The other two are very verbal and I/we try and let

talking be always allowed in our house. I try to never say quiet -

just maybe just give me one little moment. The voice is just a

wonderful thing - and trying to get L to express herself it just

doesn't seem fair to tell the other two not to talk. We just have to

take turns is all.

I'm sorry for the long novel. I just feel lost in a rut and don't

know how to get out at times. I have done some research, but would

love some comments/information of someone that has truly been there.

Thank you for your time & God Bless...

Mom eagerly awaiting response )

[Guest guest]

Having a formal diagnosis of apraxia places a completely different onus on the

school district for delivery of services.  Because research supports that

treatment of apraxia requires the need for intensive 1:1 speech therapy, the

obligation to provide appropriate services becomes significantly stronger that

if a child simply has speech delays.  It may behoove you to get a formal

diagnosis.  I don’t know anything about your school district but it is highly

possible that school districts may be reticent to diagnose apraxia due to the

expense that will follow but a private eval (possibly via an IEE) may expedite

the process.  Look on the ASHA website to find an SLP who has experience with

apraxia that you can talk to.

http://www.asha.org/findpro/

All my best.

Sylvia Sumidahttp://matthewsumida.blogspot.com/

From: rhodes083097 <katanna@...>

Subject: [ ] Verbal Apraxia

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 2:10 PM

Hi - I have never written, but have enjoyed reading everyones text.

I will give you a little bit about myself. We live in Panama City,

Florida - married, mother of 3 beautiful girls. The ages 4,5 & 6.

Yes very blessed. The youngest " could " have verbal apraxia. She has

all of the signs. Living in a smaller town, I believe that is where

our problem was just not detected early on. Eventhough, I was VERY

persistent mentioning her language/vocabulary at all wellcheck

appointments; but, that is a whole other story in our lives.

She is currently enrolled in the public school system with an IEP.

We are happy with the care she is receiving at school. The

atmosphere, class - everything is acceptable, but of course I wish

there were more they could do. She is currently receiving only

group sessions, but she does get 3-30 minutes a week. She will be

able to receive 6 -30 minute sessions this summer. My husbands

insurances only allows 30 sessions, so we are going to wait until

summer to help her not regress.

Our pediatrition referred us to a pediatric neuroligist in

Pensacola/Gulf Breeze area. I was very nervous, but came prepared

with my IEP's from school and your book " The Late Talker " in hand.

I thought I was ready for anything. The doctor was running late -

emergency at the hospital, so we waited in the room for his

arrival. The room was very geared for children, so I was pleasantly

surprised. The doctor arrived wearing clown shoes and a

spongebob tie. Ok, I'm getting nervous, but this is a pediatric

practice and I'm sure the kids ate this up. He was very nice, no

problem there. He was asking all questions relating to autism -

siezures, flapping, lining up cars - it kept going, I kept saying

no, no, no - like a broken record. I couldn't get a word in, then

finally he asked, so what brings you here? Ok - here's my chance -

L is possible apraxic, she just turned 4 - she has a vocabulary of

MAYBE 25 - luckily 50 words - Only maybe 5 clear, no sentences -

could say a word beautifully, but not be able to repeat the same

word. L doesn't have beginning sounds or ending sounds, MaMa was the

first word, but when she started saying DaDa - she lost MaMa. We now

do have that back. Her words that are understood and clear : yes,

no, Momma, Daddy (sometimes still DaDa), LaLa (sister), Jules (the

dog) pronuced Ju. The school system has started " some " sign language

to help her communicate more fluently, as we have also at home. She

did have an " EEG " before we left the office and he requested a MRI

and a chromosone study before our returning. He kept saying apraxia

is developmental. That I know is not true. Now I know wrong doctor,

but maybe I can get some sort of answer with any tests he will

offer.

It appears no one, will give us the " verbal apraxia " DX. When

starting her in school (just turned 3) I went saying I believe this

is the case. Now, the last IEP - patholgist feels the same way.

She's been in speech for over 20 years, coming from Atlanta - and

never has had a case just like ours. But of course, nothing written

in her IEP to state this.

I have a few questions, I was hoping someone could answer.

1- Is the Dx neccesary?

2- Will it open up more doors for her?

3- Will the MRI tell us anything we don't already know?

4- Is the chromosone test neccesary?

5- I have started her (3 weeks now) on Nature's Plus Omega 3/6/9. It

has a higher DHA(200mg)to EPA(100mg). She said her first

sentence " I got it " very plain - so I really think this is a break

through. In your book you state better results with ProEFA. On page

111 it mention giving a 3000mg Omega 3 capsule. Is this just

increasing the dose to 3 capsules of the ProEPA or is this something else?

I (her mother) was very shy, didn't talk and went to speech for

years. No one else in the family has any concerns with language

development. The other two are very verbal and I/we try and let

talking be always allowed in our house. I try to never say quiet -

just maybe just give me one little moment. The voice is just a

wonderful thing - and trying to get L to express herself it just

doesn't seem fair to tell the other two not to talk. We just have to

take turns is all.

I'm sorry for the long novel. I just feel lost in a rut and don't

know how to get out at times. I have done some research, but would

love some comments/informatio n of someone that has truly been there.

Thank you for your time & God Bless...

Mom eagerly awaiting response )