question about Apraxia

October 4, 2009

I understand that Apraxia varies in severity. I am in the process of having my

child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician. In order to prepare for it, I

have noted some of the words my son is saying that I can understand.

Here are some examples:

dee-da = grandpa

dee-dee = daddy

mare-mare = mary

nil or mil = milk

bow = book

da-dee = barney

tyus = thomas

kaya-tuck = fire truck

poo poo = people

He is 3 years & 4 mo. old and can say about 25 words that I can understand.

Does this sound like Apraxia? or does he just have a severe speech delay? He

can't blow bubbles or pucker his lips but he doesn't seem to have any of the

other symptoms that accompany apraxia. Do autistic children speak like this?

October 4, 2009

It's hard to say in a young child, but if he doesn't consistently use the same

attemted words he probably has apraxia. Inconsistency is the hallmark of

apraxia, and yes it does vary in severity and unfortunately many doctors do not

really know apraxia. The diagnosis is really the domain of the SLP who treats

it, they are the experts and this doesn't mean a dev ped can't diagnose it, but

they just may not. Apraxia or not, if it is suspected, the treatment should be

that of apraxia until proven otherwise so do not let a doctor who may or may not

know apraxia determine the treatment if apraxia is suspected.

Apraxia needs intensive motor planning techniques for 4-5 sessions 1:1 per week

etc. progress is slow and there is regression often times, words can come and

go, and the longer the word the greater the difficulty, sentences and phrases

also present challenges, although sounds in isolation may be pronounced

correctly.

Get The Late Talker book and it will help you understnd it better and perhaps

even explain it to the doctor. I've been amazed by how many medical

professionals and even SLPs do NOT know apraxia and are embaressed to say so,

but in this way do the child a great diservice because early and intensive

intervention is critical. I hope you have a knowledgeable and responsible doctor

who understand that a tentative diagnosis of apraxia is better than a diagnosis

of articulation disorder and expressive and receptive language disorder etc.

Diagnosis can change, and in this case it is better to err on the side of

severity to ensure proper treatment. Those do NOT get the same insurance

coverage, not the same remediation services from the school district. So it is

importnat if apraxia is present---suspected--to be treated as such--and if it

turns out a year down the road the child has made so much progress that the

diagnosis no longer fits--that's OK< you change

it, nothing is lost, but if it is not treated as apraxia should be, and it

is.... well there's a lot of loss, the best early intervention years can be lost

this way and the frustrations that come with not being able to express needs,

wants etc. are very severe and can mark a child for life sometimes.

Good luck!

Elena

From: cr1975 <cm2003uh@...>

Subject: [ ] question about Apraxia

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009, 6:51 PM