Ques re: frequency and type (Kaufman/PROMPT) of Apraxia Therapy

[Guest guest]

Hello,

 

I had some questions regarding the frequency and type of therapy for Apraxia. 

My daughter Katelyn is 2yrs, 3 months and was just diagnosed by her SLP and Ped

Neurologist in Dec after 5 months of therapy for what was originally assumed to

be a delay.

 

We have been receiving services through the state of AZ's Dept of Dev

Disabilities (DDD), but due to severe budget cuts, it looks like her services

will no longer be covered (and they were only covering part of what she really

needs). Our insurance will not cover ANYTHING and since she was receiving

services though the state, now obtaining private insurance is not an option, as

she is considered to have a pre-existing condition and denied, just based on

having received any speech---I didn't even mention the Apraxia diagnosis. So....

everything we do from here on out is 100% paid for us.

 

We love Katelyn's current SLP and she has been doing remarkably well-- She uses

the Kaufman cards and Katelyn does really well with them.  The drilling isn't so

fun for her, but her SLP is good about breaking them up with some play.  And

when Katelyn " gets " them, you can see how excited she is.  We are trying to work

out a way to hire her from her company instead of through DDD if it looks like

we will be cut.   She said b.c she lives close to us, she could prob work out

(2) half hour sessions a week instead of the hour long (in reality 45 min, but

Katelyn is ready to crack after 35 anyway) one that DDD provides to maximize her

therapy time. 

 

The only thing is, I was advised by the Neurologist and a NeuroDevelopmental

something or other (pregnancy brain is escaping me right now) to do as much

therapy as Katelyn can handle, ideally (4) days of 30 min, so a total of 120 min

a week, divided into 30 min sessions-- intense and daily.  They feel since she

is under 3, her brain is still in prime development mode and can absorb the most

right now and it will get harder for her and take longer, the older she gets--so

to take advantage of her early diagnosis, esp since she is pretty used to being

in various therapy during the week.  Her SLP also said ideally she would do the

same thing (4x's a week), but logistically cant.  Her SLP was trained and worked

several years at the Kaufman Children's Center and uses their Speech to Lang

protocol with great success.  She has no experience w/ PROMPT.

 

So.... I was looking into other Apraxia Speech Therapy options and there is a

therapy group here highly known and respected for their work w/ Apraxia.  I have

a friend who takes her son there (age 3, 2 months) for the 4 days a week, 30 min

and has done amazing (he works with 2 SLPs that work in tandem, each do 2 days

with him).  She said they use the Kaufman base but don't do the flash card

drilling the way her current SLP does and they also use PROMPT and it (the

therapy in general) is more play based than what Katelyn does now.  I don't know

anything really about PROMPT, but I have heard so many great things about it. 

Katelyn is able to do things like blow bubbles, a whistle, lick her lips, etc...

but her mouth often seems lost in making sounds or joining sounds together.

 

So, after explaining all this....

My questions are:

How do you think it would work for Katelyn to get therapy from 2 totally not

connected SLPs, both working on the same diagnosis but in different ways?    Or

would she be better off with 1 set of therapists from one practice and leave her

old SLP (who she has done so well with) b.c she can't do 4 days.  Are there

benefits to combing Kaufman or PROMPT or is it better to just stick with one? 

Also, better to stick with what you know if your child is responding or trying

something new added to see if it helps even more??

Also... what are your thoughts on 4 days?  (or even 3?).   The new place said

they recommend a min of 2 days for 2 year olds but will do 4 if a parent

requests it.... Wouldn't it be based on what is best for the child and not our

request?  Since obviously going from 2 to 4 days would double the cost--which if

it is effective, I am fine with... but if it's a waste.... Although all the

neuro specialists seem to think 4 days was the way to go, if we could afford it.

 

The new place also has an intense Apraxia Summer " camp " and they said they have

kids as young as twi years old... and its 1 hr a day, 4 days a week for 7

weeks... so if a 2 year old could handle that.. wouldn't 30 min be easier?????

 

I am so lost!  I want this to be based on what is best for her, not the

financials... we'll figure that out...  I just don't want to lose precious

time.   All the therapies are about $50/ for a 30 min session.  The Apraxia

summer program is $3500

 

What are your thoughts????

Dana

mom to Katelyn, age 2, CAS