Re: Speech therapy frequency

[Guest guest]

Hi, we now have a diagnosis of apraxia, but only received it when he was about

3-1/2 years old. Prior to him being diagnosed with apraxia, he was still

receiving more than once a week through his IEP: basically three times per week

individual and one time per week group. He is now 3-3/4 years old and started

with a private speech therapist one time per week in addition to his school

speech therapy. For comparison, the testing for his IEP showed that he scored

about 2% as compared to his peers in expressive language, but average in

receptive. We only saw a huge leap when we started with this new therapist...

before that progress was really slow, despite the multiple sessions. He still

was at one syallable words primarily until just recently, but now is trying to

put two words together, and occasionally can put three words together. Get the

therapist to give you homework if you can't go more often, and good luck pushing

for more time. I have several documents relating to apraxia.

Good luck,

Barbara

>

> My son is 28 months old and until 2 months ago was pretty much non-verbal.

About 6 months ago, I suspected he might be apraxic and started him on Carlson

fish oil 1000mg/day with little change. He has had multiple medical problems

his entire life including chronic aspiration, eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic

fluid in his ears, eczema and multiple food allergies to corn, soy, peanuts,

tree nuts, and mustard seed. He had ear tubes placed at the end of October 2009

and by Christmas he had about 5-10 words in his vocabulary. In the last 2

months, he definitely is trying to say more words, but he still consistently

cuts off the ends of all words, often says just the ending syllable of a

multi-syllable word, and at times changes the sounds he makes for certain words.

He also has poor imitation ability and most of his speech comes during TV or

play. He started seeing an experienced SLP at the local children's hospital in

Indy 1x/wk about 5 weeks ago and he has not yet received an apraxia diagnosis.

She has been using the PROMPT method during therapy sessions and we currently

have pictures of foods he eats on magnet paper on the fridge. This has

definitely helped in relieving his frustrations, but I'm becoming more concerned

that his speech clarity is not improving. I'd say my husband and I can only

understand his speech about 25% of the time and that is with context. He has no

2 word phrases to date.

> I'm just wondering if others out there without an official apraxia diagnosis

are only seeing SLP 1x/wk or is therapy more often? For those who were 1x/wk

and then increased to more frequent, did you see a big leap? Our insurance does

cover 60 therapy visits/year at 90% and he does still qualify for early

intervention services at $50/visit. Thanks in advance for any advice/ insight!

I just want the best for my son, especially with the rough past 2 years he has

had.

>

[Guest guest]

My son had no words at 28 months, he was diagnosed at 24 months. He was getting

private speech as well as services through the Regional Center. We bumped his

speech to 6 hours per week (4 hrs private pay and 2 hrs through the regional

center)for about 2 months and it really kick started his speech. By the end of

the 2 months he had many words and was stringing 2 -3 together. Now at 4 years

old he gets 2 hours from our school district and 2 hours privately. He is

almost completely intelligible (no more translating by mom) and speaks in very

complex sentences. There are still minor articulation issues but he is

understood by school mates and strangers. Those two months of extra speech was

some of the best money we ever spent.

All my best.

>

> My son is 28 months old and until 2 months ago was pretty much non-verbal.

About 6 months ago, I suspected he might be apraxic and started him on Carlson

fish oil 1000mg/day with little change. He has had multiple medical problems

his entire life including chronic aspiration, eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic

fluid in his ears, eczema and multiple food allergies to corn, soy, peanuts,

tree nuts, and mustard seed. He had ear tubes placed at the end of October 2009

and by Christmas he had about 5-10 words in his vocabulary. In the last 2

months, he definitely is trying to say more words, but he still consistently

cuts off the ends of all words, often says just the ending syllable of a

multi-syllable word, and at times changes the sounds he makes for certain words.

He also has poor imitation ability and most of his speech comes during TV or

play. He started seeing an experienced SLP at the local children's hospital in

Indy 1x/wk about 5 weeks ago and he has not yet received an apraxia diagnosis.

She has been using the PROMPT method during therapy sessions and we currently

have pictures of foods he eats on magnet paper on the fridge. This has

definitely helped in relieving his frustrations, but I'm becoming more concerned

that his speech clarity is not improving. I'd say my husband and I can only

understand his speech about 25% of the time and that is with context. He has no

2 word phrases to date.

> I'm just wondering if others out there without an official apraxia diagnosis

are only seeing SLP 1x/wk or is therapy more often? For those who were 1x/wk

and then increased to more frequent, did you see a big leap? Our insurance does

cover 60 therapy visits/year at 90% and he does still qualify for early

intervention services at $50/visit. Thanks in advance for any advice/ insight!

I just want the best for my son, especially with the rough past 2 years he has

had.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Your son just like my son Henry. Henry was at the same place as your son at the

same age. Ix a week is not enough at all. At 24 months, Henry started speech 2x

and 3 months later it was increased to 3x. I did really not start seeing

progress till it was increased to 3x a week and he had a HUGE leap this past

fall at 32/33 months when it was increased to 4x a week. Much to my sadness

Henry fazed out of EI in Jan. on this 3rd birthday and is now receiving town

services through our school distrist and the ST I think is terrible so, another

HUGE fight is about to begin. Just as it felt right and things were neatly in

place boom... it comes crashing down. It took forever for me to fight EI to give

Henry the correct amount of ST he needed and deserved. Henry does see a private

ST 2x a week that does PROMPT and I am going broke paying for it but can I do,

this is what he needs. Henry is talking now but I can only understand 60/70 % of

what he is saying and an

outsider, I think is only 30/40 % of what he is saying. He has come a LONG way

but it has been with a lot of ST. He also started fish oil at 19 months and

about 6 months ago I started him on Vit.E.

Please feel free to email me off line anytime. I know how hard this is.

________________________________

From: jaytinaemma <jaytinaemma@...>

Sent: Mon, March 1, 2010 4:45:15 PM

Subject: [ ] Speech therapy frequency

My son is 28 months old and until 2 months ago was pretty much non-verbal.

About 6 months ago, I suspected he might be apraxic and started him on Carlson

fish oil 1000mg/day with little change. He has had multiple medical problems

his entire life including chronic aspiration, eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic

fluid in his ears, eczema and multiple food allergies to corn, soy, peanuts,

tree nuts, and mustard seed. He had ear tubes placed at the end of October 2009

and by Christmas he had about 5-10 words in his vocabulary. In the last 2

months, he definitely is trying to say more words, but he still consistently

cuts off the ends of all words, often says just the ending syllable of a

multi-syllable word, and at times changes the sounds he makes for certain words.

He also has poor imitation ability and most of his speech comes during TV or

play. He started seeing an experienced SLP at the local children's hospital in

Indy 1x/wk about 5 weeks ago and

he has not yet received an apraxia diagnosis. She has been using the PROMPT

method during therapy sessions and we currently have pictures of foods he eats

on magnet paper on the fridge. This has definitely helped in relieving his

frustrations, but I'm becoming more concerned that his speech clarity is not

improving. I'd say my husband and I can only understand his speech about 25% of

the time and that is with context. He has no 2 word phrases to date.

I'm just wondering if others out there without an official apraxia diagnosis are

only seeing SLP 1x/wk or is therapy more often? For those who were 1x/wk and

then increased to more frequent, did you see a big leap? Our insurance does

cover 60 therapy visits/year at 90% and he does still qualify for early

intervention services at $50/visit. Thanks in advance for any advice/ insight!

I just want the best for my son, especially with the rough past 2 years he has

had.

[Guest guest]

It appears the one time a week is through insurance or out of pocket 100

percent. Have you applied for Early Intervention services through your state as

well...or is that what this therapy is? Let me know. And yes you would want

more than 1X a week of therapy if you could combine both EI services and at

least 1 day of private.

So let me know that. Also what's up with you getting your child ready for the

town's EI program. Typically your State birth-3 EI program professionals help

guide you toward the 3 and up program through the town's school- the preschool

program.

Once school age here is a general guide for how much therapy a week is

appropriate:

http://www.cherabfoundation.org/2007/speech-therapy-matrix

If the therapist you are seeing is through the state you want to also secure at

least one private evaluation from an SLP...and if apraxia is suspected a

neurodevelopmental medical exam as well to confirm or rule out any neuro soft

signs and to help you further advocate for appropriate placement and services.

Have you read The Late Talker book?

About Carlson -we learned long ago that just because it's fish oil doesn't mean

it's going to " work " All that matter are formula, dosage and quality of the

oil. Carlson I believe is a good brand so you'd have to share which formula.

If it's cod liver oil...no wonder it's not working!! That doesn't work for just

about any in this group.

Anyway let me know!

=====