Re: At a loss as to which direction I should take - PROMPT or more traditional style

[Guest guest]

Go with your gut! MY son started PROMPT when he was barely 27 months and we saw

incredible development. He went from 2-3 words that were unintelligible, to now

at almost 34mos he's speaking in 8-9 word sentences that are still hard to

understand, but most people can get what he's trying to say. We did PROMPT,

fish oils and of course, he's still a developing child so who knows what was the

key trigger. I think all 3 played a significant role. However, I'm not sure

where we'd be if it weren't for starting PROMPT.

I fully believe in it's effectiveness and if I had to go back and do it again,

I'd jump at the chance to start him on this therapy again.

It is a bit more " hands-on " and aggressive than other typical therapies, but I

think that's probably one of the reasons it's working.

Good luck!

Sharon

>

> Hi there,

>

> I've a 24mth boy who is totally non verbal, and makes only a couple of sounds.

>

> My gut feeling was to go with a PROMPT trained therapist (being that I'm in

Australia, there are very few sp with this training, but I have managed to find

one lady who has advanced training in this style of therapy).

>

> Now here is my dilemma. I have been in contact with a lady by the name of

Caroline Bowen - she is the leader in the field of apraxia in Australia, but

unfortunately is not taking on new clients. She gave me a somewhat negative

opinion to PROMPT, saying that there was not enough study/research done on it to

warrant saying that it was 'the way to go'.

>

> She has given me the name of a sp who does have extensive experience in

treating kids with apraxia, and after speaking with her, have been told that she

has one spot open at the moment. My concern being that this particular sp does

not use Kaufman technique, and knew little about PROMPT (and she beleived my boy

was a little young to benefit from it).

>

> The lady who has the PROMPT training, also has a child with severe speech

disorder (I'm not exactly sure what), and her opinion is that PROMPT is the best

way to go.

>

> What are your opinions on the direction I should take?

>

[Guest guest]

Ruby I know I answered your private message but thought I'd answer you here too.

Very few speech therapy methods have clinical research behind them...here's what

I found on Prompt https://promptinstitute.com/index.php?page=prompt-research I

can tell you the prognosis in our group is extremely high with early appropriate

intervention (and for apraxia that includes some sort of touch cue such as

Prompt) for a mainstream school and life. Many of our member's children are not

only in mainstream but good students and social. Proof is in the pudding as

they say and I believe appropriate diagnosis and early intervention is key.

I would say at your son's age it may be early to know for sure if he's

dyspraxic, unless he had signs of oral apraxia or " soft signs " which would mean

it's good to see a pediatric neurologist if it's suspected to confirm or rule

out -and good to have a therapist that can work with him if it's a developmental

delay or an impairment.

Only thing is that I like SLPs that are knowledgeable about more than one method

-Prompt is only one. Does the Prompt therapist know about for example the

Kaufman technique... http://www.kidspeech.com or use any oral motor therapy if

that is needed?

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/oralapraxia.html Is there a way

for you to get the book The Late Talker where you are?

Here's a message that I just sent to another new mom at our facebook page

http://www.apraxia.org (have you seen that group yet?)

Some questions: Is he showing any frustration yet? Also have you started any

alternative communication to relieve any communication frustration now or going

ahead like simple sign or PECS (simple picture exchange) Also what type of

therapy is the EI therapist using? If apraxic you would want motor planning

therapies -and typically there is a variety of approaches used that can be

effective.

My original ped with Tanner had the same wait and see approach, and due to that

we only had about 3 weeks of EI...and at the time which is even more annoying my

co author of The Late Talker was the on call developmental pediatrician for the

practice -so they could have just scheduled Tanner for a " just in case "

appointment with Dr. Agin which back then would not have been a big deal (as it

is today)!!! It can make you scream! Yes I switched peds and recommend you look

for who else is around too. Wait and See for late talkers in today's day and age

is so 60s and just irresponsible as there is such a dramatic increase in

multifaceted neurobased communication impairments like autism and apraxia - and

there is no harm in early intervention- but there is harm in wait and see if

there is an impairment that could benefit from early therapy. I mean Dr. Agin

even wrote a cover article for Contemporary Pediatrics which is the trade

magazine for pediatric medical professionals throughout the US years ago

now...and I wrote the parent section...to raise awareness to people like your

pediatrician.

" The " late talker " -when silence isn't golden

Not all children with delayed speech are " little Einsteins " or garden

variety " late bloomers. " Some have a speech-language disorder that

will persist unless warning signs are recognized and intervention

comes early. Includes a Guide for Parents. "

Podcast interview with Dr. Marilyn Agin from Contemporary Pediatrics

http://contemporarypediatrics.modernmedicine.com/radio_peds4

Actual article (where you can read it for free)

http://drgreene.mediwire.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content & ArticleID=132720

or

http://opsc.mediwire.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content & ArticleID=132720

My parent guide still works (for free)

http://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/contpeds/data/articlestandard/contpeds/492\

004/136315/article.pdf

Again thank goodness you are 'on it' So many parents take comfort from the

doctor's well meaning but poor advice and precious time slips away....I was one

of them and kick myself for waiting as long as I did to seek second opinions. If

apraxia is suspected you should seek not just your pediatrician's opinion -but a

neuromedical evaluation from either a pediatric neurologist or developmental

pediatrician to confirm or rule out the neuro soft signs like the sensory you

suspect.

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

Good to get names from other parents through support sources in your area. What

state or country are you in?

If he isn't apraxic the therapy for apraxia won't hurt him and will probably

help stimulate speech, and the good news is that even if he is apraxic -which

would be hard to tell at his age (best typically is diagnosis of suspected

apraxia) you are going to be providing appropriate therapies to him early which

provides him the best prognosis!

You may want to read this page on " new to the diagnosis " and ask away with any

more questions!

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=115029735601 & topic=7329

=====

[Guest guest]

I cannot speak to PROMPT therapy because my son has not had it, but I do want to

comment and add to the oral motor comments that have been made by others in

response to your post. My son received traditional speech therapy from age 18

mos. through 2 years 6 months. By the end of all that he could only make 8

basic consonant sounds (ma, ba, da) and had a constant drool with his mouth

hanging open. The only factor that changed was that at age 2 years 6 months

I added 1/2 hour of oral motor therapy with Debra Beckman using her methods.

We did the exercises she taught us twice per day at home. Oral motor involved

our hands inside his mouth, was not painful, not scary after one or two

sessions. I do them all to myself to check them out. He continued with his

other speech therapy. My son now, 6 months later can make all of his sounds

and has begun pairing two words together, his drool is now almost nonexistent,

and he can eat more difficult to chew foods. We had to correct some

sleep/adenoids a month ago so that has also come into play. My son is a

living example that this type of therapy does work. In fact, if there is any

change your sons mouth muscles aren't working correctly or he is low tone I

believe it is essential. I've had a therapist who said she was doing oral

motor before this and quite frankly it wasn't a good job she was doing. He

cried at all sessions like he was being tortured, she didn't show me how to do

them at home which I believe is important to really gain momentum, and he didn't

make any progress in his speech.

Best of luck to you.

Sue

[ ] Re: At a loss as to which direction I should take

- PROMPT or more traditional style

Go with your gut! MY son started PROMPT when he was barely 27 months and we saw

incredible development. He went from 2-3 words that were unintelligible, to now

at almost 34mos he's speaking in 8-9 word sentences that are still hard to

understand, but most people can get what he's trying to say. We did PROMPT, fish

oils and of course, he's still a developing child so who knows what was the key

trigger. I think all 3 played a significant role. However, I'm not sure where

we'd be if it weren't for starting PROMPT.

I fully believe in it's effectiveness and if I had to go back and do it again,

I'd jump at the chance to start him on this therapy again.

It is a bit more " hands-on " and aggressive than other typical therapies, but I

think that's probably one of the reasons it's working.

Good luck!

Sharon

>

> Hi there,

>

> I've a 24mth boy who is totally non verbal, and makes only a couple of sounds.

>

> My gut feeling was to go with a PROMPT trained therapist (being that I'm in

Australia, there are very few sp with this training, but I have managed to find

one lady who has advanced training in this style of therapy).

>

> Now here is my dilemma. I have been in contact with a lady by the name of

Caroline Bowen - she is the leader in the field of apraxia in Australia, but

unfortunately is not taking on new clients. She gave me a somewhat negative

opinion to PROMPT, saying that there was not enough study/research done on it to

warrant saying that it was 'the way to go'.

>

> She has given me the name of a sp who does have extensive experience in

treating kids with apraxia, and after speaking with her, have been told that she

has one spot open at the moment. My concern being that this particular sp does

not use Kaufman technique, and knew little about PROMPT (and she beleived my boy

was a little young to benefit from it).

>

> The lady who has the PROMPT training, also has a child with severe speech

disorder (I'm not exactly sure what), and her opinion is that PROMPT is the best

way to go.

>

> What are your opinions on the direction I should take?

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing this Sue. It is important for SLPs to hear this.  I

personally learn from stories like this. Lori

 

Lori Melnitsky, MA CCC-SLP

Executive Director, All Island Speech Therapy

The Center For Stuttering Therapy & Communication Disorders

STUTTERING SPECIALIST

PROMPT CERTIFIED

Founder- Long Island Stuttering Connection Practice Groups

516-776-0184

Plainview, NY 11803

****You can now access my blog directly at:

www.allislandspeech.com 

 

 

" Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission " -Eleonor Roosevelt

 

From: NotefrmSue@... <NotefrmSue@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: At a loss as to which direction I should

take - PROMPT or more traditional style

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010, 7:51 AM

 

I cannot speak to PROMPT therapy because my son has not had it, but I do want to

comment and add to the oral motor comments that have been made by others in

response to your post. My son received traditional speech therapy from age 18

mos. through 2 years 6 months. By the end of all that he could only make 8 basic

consonant sounds (ma, ba, da) and had a constant drool with his mouth hanging

open. The only factor that changed was that at age 2 years 6 months I added 1/2

hour of oral motor therapy with Debra Beckman using her methods. We did the

exercises she taught us twice per day at home. Oral motor involved our hands

inside his mouth, was not painful, not scary after one or two sessions. I do

them all to myself to check them out. He continued with his other speech

therapy. My son now, 6 months later can make all of his sounds and has begun

pairing two words together, his drool is now almost nonexistent, and he can eat

more difficult to chew foods. We

had to correct some sleep/adenoids a month ago so that has also come into play.

My son is a living example that this type of therapy does work. In fact, if

there is any change your sons mouth muscles aren't working correctly or he is

low tone I believe it is essential. I've had a therapist who said she was doing

oral motor before this and quite frankly it wasn't a good job she was doing. He

cried at all sessions like he was being tortured, she didn't show me how to do

them at home which I believe is important to really gain momentum, and he didn't

make any progress in his speech.

Best of luck to you.

Sue

[childrensapraxiane t] Re: At a loss as to which direction I should

take - PROMPT or more traditional style

Go with your gut! MY son started PROMPT when he was barely 27 months and we saw

incredible development. He went from 2-3 words that were unintelligible, to now

at almost 34mos he's speaking in 8-9 word sentences that are still hard to

understand, but most people can get what he's trying to say. We did PROMPT, fish

oils and of course, he's still a developing child so who knows what was the key

trigger. I think all 3 played a significant role. However, I'm not sure where

we'd be if it weren't for starting PROMPT.

I fully believe in it's effectiveness and if I had to go back and do it again,

I'd jump at the chance to start him on this therapy again.

It is a bit more " hands-on " and aggressive than other typical therapies, but I

think that's probably one of the reasons it's working.

Good luck!

Sharon

>

> Hi there,

>

> I've a 24mth boy who is totally non verbal, and makes only a couple of sounds.

>

> My gut feeling was to go with a PROMPT trained therapist (being that I'm in

Australia, there are very few sp with this training, but I have managed to find

one lady who has advanced training in this style of therapy).

>

> Now here is my dilemma. I have been in contact with a lady by the name of

Caroline Bowen - she is the leader in the field of apraxia in Australia, but

unfortunately is not taking on new clients. She gave me a somewhat negative

opinion to PROMPT, saying that there was not enough study/research done on it to

warrant saying that it was 'the way to go'.

>

> She has given me the name of a sp who does have extensive experience in

treating kids with apraxia, and after speaking with her, have been told that she

has one spot open at the moment. My concern being that this particular sp does

not use Kaufman technique, and knew little about PROMPT (and she beleived my boy

was a little young to benefit from it).

>

> The lady who has the PROMPT training, also has a child with severe speech

disorder (I'm not exactly sure what), and her opinion is that PROMPT is the best

way to go.

>

> What are your opinions on the direction I should take?

>