Re: Does this sound right????

[Guest guest]

Paige,

From what I understand, school based therapy is to provide the " academic " means

of speech and what is most needed educationally. I have a 2.5 yr old daughter

with microcephaly (from loss of oxygen to her brain before birth), and she has

been in private speech therapy since four months old. She still has no words

and barely any sounds. Her private speech therapist has advised us to continue

with private therapy after she begins school this fall. The non-school therapy

is a more rounded therapy that takes everything into account. When I talk to

her private therapist, we talk weekly about how she is swallowing food, facial

expressions she is making, vision problems she has, and even dental/jaw issues

that might be affecting her oral motor abilities. I've been told my daughter

probably won't get the total therapy like this from the school setting, since

their number one priority is based on educational goals. Not sure if this is

completely correct, since my daughter isn't in school yet. I just thought I'd

let you know what I've been told to this point.

~Mindy

>

> So I organized my thoughts and sent Liam's school speech therapist an e-mail

inquiring about her comfort level and experience working with apraxia as well as

asking to set the wheels in motion to increase his weekly speech time from 60

minutes. She called to talk and here is some of what she told me

>

> 1) she attended her first apraxia conference in 1981 and not much has changed

since then. She said it is better to call it an oral motor disorder instead of

using that " scary apraxia " word.

>

> 2) her caseload (pre-school setting) is 1/2 to 2/3 kids with apraxia versus

speech delays. She divides speech problems into two main problems:

phonological rule disorders and apraxia. She was surprised that I read

somewhere recently that more speech therapists are treating kids with delays and

believes oral motor disorders are much more prevalent.

>

> 3) she doesn't like the PROMPT method as she views it as a technique that is

sold, therefore, questioning it's merit. She has her own techniques that have

worked for her.

>

> 4) Although Liam doesn't have any words (has been in speech since July 2010

with home therapy and with her since January 2011) she feels 1 hour a week is

adequate...as he is making progress towards his IEP goals. She said that if she

increased all of her kid's treatment time that they would all make more progress

but since Liam was making progress that was all she would advocate for

>

> 5) When I asked if she could recommend a private therapist that we could use

to supplement school therapy she said it was unethical for her to do????

>

> She said she understood that I wanted him to have speech " now " and I

corrected her. I said I totally understood he wouldn't have speech " now " but I

want to make sure we are providing him with the most appropriate therapy.

>

> I kinda feel like I just got bulldozed over. I do think she is a good

therapist and I know she adores Liam. She simply sounded like a therapist who

works within her boundaries and is very politically correct. For the remainder

of this year she is his therapist. I don't know for sure what will happen for

next school year. We talked about summer and she said he should qualify but it

would be probably 3 weeks only through the summer and his treatments would

probably only be 10 minutes because the goal is that he doesn't lose

anything...not to necessarily work for improvement. As I read Latetalkers I

only skimmed the chapters about being your child's advocate because I thought

the school was so helpful. I guess that was before I really had any questions.

We are pursuing private speech therapy through a name

[Guest guest]

No, many of the things on here do not sound correct to me. I will try

to reply in full this evening.

Meyer

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 10:37 PM

Subject: [ ] Does this sound right????

So I organized my thoughts and sent Liam's school speech therapist an

e-mail inquiring about her comfort level and experience working with

apraxia as well as asking to set the wheels in motion to increase his

weekly speech time from 60 minutes. She called to talk and here is some

of what she told me

1) she attended her first apraxia conference in 1981 and not much has

changed since then. She said it is better to call it an oral motor

disorder instead of using that " scary apraxia " word.

2) her caseload (pre-school setting) is 1/2 to 2/3 kids with apraxia

versus speech delays. She divides speech problems into two main

problems: phonological rule disorders and apraxia. She was surprised

that I read somewhere recently that more speech therapists are treating

kids with delays and believes oral motor disorders are much more

prevalent.

3) she doesn't like the PROMPT method as she views it as a technique

that is sold, therefore, questioning it's merit. She has her own

techniques that have worked for her.

4) Although Liam doesn't have any words (has been in speech since July

2010 with home therapy and with her since January 2011) she feels 1 hour

a week is adequate...as he is making progress towards his IEP goals. She

said that if she increased all of her kid's treatment time that they

would all make more progress but since Liam was making progress that was

all she would advocate for

5) When I asked if she could recommend a private therapist that we could

use to supplement school therapy she said it was unethical for her to

do????

She said she understood that I wanted him to have speech " now " and I

corrected her. I said I totally understood he wouldn't have speech " now "

but I want to make sure we are providing him with the most appropriate

therapy.

I kinda feel like I just got bulldozed over. I do think she is a good

therapist and I know she adores Liam. She simply sounded like a

therapist who works within her boundaries and is very politically

correct. For the remainder of this year she is his therapist. I don't

know for sure what will happen for next school year. We talked about

summer and she said he should qualify but it would be probably 3 weeks

only through the summer and his treatments would probably only be 10

minutes because the goal is that he doesn't lose anything...not to

necessarily work for improvement. As I read Latetalkers I only skimmed

the chapters about being your child's advocate because I thought the

school was so helpful. I guess that was before I really had any

questions. We are pursuing private speech therapy through a name

Geng provided us but obviously school based therapy is a big deal. Do

her comments sound in line or way off base or somewhere in between? An

unbiased opinion would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Paige

[Guest guest]

Paige I'm not sure in what way you consider this SLP a good therapist if you

take nice aside. How long has your 3 year 2 month old son been in therapy with

her and he's still without any words?!! What are the IEP goals he is meeting?

Ability to breath through his nose?!!

I just put a call into and left 2 VERY long messages for our Cherab VP Cheryl

who is a school therapist, educator and an award winning one in

NJ featured on TV even!

http://www.cherabfoundation.org/about/advisoryboard/cheryl-bennett-johnson-m-a-s\

lseducational-consultant/ Yay Cheryl (not that she'll read this as she's not

into computers much- but she'll call me back and I'll type out the answer for

you. The angrier she is the quicker she speaks and I have to type pretty

fast!!)

Also don't underestimate the SLP I referred you to to help you advocate against

this mess - Hoffman was president of the speech language hearing

association in St Louis and works as an assistant professor at St Louis

University. What do you think is going to say when she reads this SLP

feels all she needs to know about apraxia she learned about sometime after the

discovery of fire -or what did you say the 1800s?!! 's entire message

after the poem about Tricia's son is about the importance of continuing

education!!! http://www.cherab.org/information/silentnomore.html Apraxia today

just like autism is extremely different than it was decades ago!!!

And if she doesn't like the PROMPT method because it's sold- does she believe in

the Kaufman technique which is another proven method for apraxia therapy? What

isn't sold? Where did she learn how to be a therapist for free?!!! Or is it

she's just against anything that brings a child to say words too quickly...it

must be scary for someone so back in the dark ages...progress, change- and all

that. What methods does she do? PROMPT is a form of touch cue -does she do

that?

And better to call apraxia oral motor disorder and confuse apraxia with every

possible type of oral motor dysfunction that exists today? Apraxia isn't a

scary word -it's a diagnosis just like dyspraxia or dysarthria -both of them are

oral motor disorders but very different -and there are tons more .

And 'slap slap' to you Paige!! You actually asked HER who SHE would recommend

as a private therapist?!!! That's the one thing she has said to you that was

awesome -not that she can't recommend but thank goodness she didn't for whatever

bizarre reason!!

Listen I know she's probably a really nice lady that adores your son. I know

you are all caught up in that emotional aspect. But there are tons of very

nice people out there and the goal isn't to find nice people to babysit your son

-it's to get appropriate therapy from someone that can make true progress with

your Liam. Five years from now you may never see this therapist again, you can

move, she can retire or be fired or start working in a different field -but your

goal is to help your son who will always be your son. And sooner rather than

later. And PS -I find most SLPs and OTs are very nice people -the good ones and

the bad ones.

You so need an advocate on the outside of this school that can help you set real

goals for Liam and help you advocate for appropriate therapy -and if this SLP

isn't appropriate -then the school will have to look into something else.

Bringing in an expert to train staff, paying for you to take your child

elsewhere for therapy, or even out of district placement etc. There are a huge

amount of options and when a school professional starts talking about the rest

of their caseload when you are talking about your child that is not appropriate.

That is none of your business what is going on with the other children -the goal

is to set appropriate goals and meet them through appropriate therapies and

placement.

I do hope Hoffman gets back to you -and I know I'll have more to share

from Cheryl when she calls me back. In the meantime you may want to pull out

The Late Talker book I co authored again and check out the advocacy chapter

-there are many pointers in there too.

=====

[Guest guest]

, thanks for the words of guidance and reassurance. Like I said, I felt

like I was bulldozed over after I spoke with Liam's SLP. Actually, nauseated is

a better word. Good news is that got back with me today and it looks like

things should work out for her to be able to help us. I promise to keep you

updated. I plan to go review his IEP goals and meet with so I can go into

a review of his IEP with an advocate. I am anxious to hear the additional

information you receive as well as the feedback of others. Looks like my

Latetalkers book will be well worn sooner than later.

Thanks for the support.

Paige

>

> Paige I'm not sure in what way you consider this SLP a good therapist if you

take nice aside. How long has your 3 year 2 month old son been in therapy with

her and he's still without any words?!! What are the IEP goals he is meeting?

Ability to breath through his nose?!!

>

> I just put a call into and left 2 VERY long messages for our Cherab VP Cheryl

who is a school therapist, educator and an award winning one in

NJ featured on TV even!

http://www.cherabfoundation.org/about/advisoryboard/cheryl-bennett-johnson-m-a-s\

lseducational-consultant/ Yay Cheryl (not that she'll read this as she's not

into computers much- but she'll call me back and I'll type out the answer for

you. The angrier she is the quicker she speaks and I have to type pretty

fast!!)

>

> Also don't underestimate the SLP I referred you to to help you advocate

against this mess - Hoffman was president of the speech language hearing

association in St Louis and works as an assistant professor at St Louis

University. What do you think is going to say when she reads this SLP

feels all she needs to know about apraxia she learned about sometime after the

discovery of fire -or what did you say the 1800s?!! 's entire message

after the poem about Tricia's son is about the importance of continuing

education!!! http://www.cherab.org/information/silentnomore.html Apraxia today

just like autism is extremely different than it was decades ago!!!

>

> And if she doesn't like the PROMPT method because it's sold- does she believe

in the Kaufman technique which is another proven method for apraxia therapy?

What isn't sold? Where did she learn how to be a therapist for free?!!! Or is

it she's just against anything that brings a child to say words too quickly...it

must be scary for someone so back in the dark ages...progress, change- and all

that. What methods does she do? PROMPT is a form of touch cue -does she do

that?

>

> And better to call apraxia oral motor disorder and confuse apraxia with every

possible type of oral motor dysfunction that exists today? Apraxia isn't a

scary word -it's a diagnosis just like dyspraxia or dysarthria -both of them are

oral motor disorders but very different -and there are tons more .

>

> And 'slap slap' to you Paige!! You actually asked HER who SHE would recommend

as a private therapist?!!! That's the one thing she has said to you that was

awesome -not that she can't recommend but thank goodness she didn't for whatever

bizarre reason!!

>

> Listen I know she's probably a really nice lady that adores your son. I know

you are all caught up in that emotional aspect. But there are tons of very

nice people out there and the goal isn't to find nice people to babysit your son

-it's to get appropriate therapy from someone that can make true progress with

your Liam. Five years from now you may never see this therapist again, you can

move, she can retire or be fired or start working in a different field -but your

goal is to help your son who will always be your son. And sooner rather than

later. And PS -I find most SLPs and OTs are very nice people -the good ones and

the bad ones.

>

> You so need an advocate on the outside of this school that can help you set

real goals for Liam and help you advocate for appropriate therapy -and if this

SLP isn't appropriate -then the school will have to look into something else.

Bringing in an expert to train staff, paying for you to take your child

elsewhere for therapy, or even out of district placement etc. There are a huge

amount of options and when a school professional starts talking about the rest

of their caseload when you are talking about your child that is not appropriate.

That is none of your business what is going on with the other children -the goal

is to set appropriate goals and meet them through appropriate therapies and

placement.

>

> I do hope Hoffman gets back to you -and I know I'll have more to share

from Cheryl when she calls me back. In the meantime you may want to pull out

The Late Talker book I co authored again and check out the advocacy chapter

-there are many pointers in there too.

>

>

> =====

>

[Guest guest]

That's so good you reached !! I did get a call back from Cheryl today but

missed it -but I'm sure we'll speak sometime soon. She always has such awesome

advice for advocacy. When we worked on the book The Late Talker -the advocacy

chapter we had help from special education attorneys as well as Cheryl -I just

love her!!! Of course I put in the parent view -Dr. Agin put in the

developmental pediatrician view (but again she has a background as an SLP prior

to medical school) and my other co author Malcolm is an international journalist

so he's the one that knows how to dig for the facts and write them as if they

are poetry. So when you flip through it -keep in mind for the advocacy chapter

there is a wealth of information from a variety of sources to help. I have a

feeling again you are in great hands with !!

=====