Apraxia: Banging My Head Against A Brick Wall

The title of this post is just how I have been feeling about this cursed Apraxia (Dispraxia) that as been plaguing my little boy, Buster (4)

It really hit home when my oldest daughter Flash (9) cam to me in tears…finally admitting that the reason for her distress was….

‘…..I’m just really worried about my brother…he can’t talk yet….”

Buster has been seeing a speech therapist and in the beginning I was feeling very hopeful that his speech would make big improvements this year. However, I can only get to see the speech therapist about once each month. On one of these scheduled appointments, Buster was very sick with the flu (he missed a week of preschool). I called the therapist and was informed that the next appointment he could get was 2 months later!!

Busters Preschool teacher also called me this week. She wanted to say that she was very concerned that Buster’s speech was not improving . She wanted to know if there was anything she could do to help him. She is such a lovely teacher J. She asked if she could speak to Busters Speech Therapist to get some ideas on how to best support Buster in the class room (The therapist was supposed to call the teacher at the beginning of the school year, but that has never happened).

The most frustrating part for me is the speech therapist. Even though I have been to see an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist to rule out any structural abnormalities, she has told the preschool teacher that she thinks that buster has an abnormality in his palette *!*. She is still very determined to teach buster sign language and have him use his iPod…..she even told the preschool teacher that it was a shame she didn’t see Buster more regularly….(Hello....you make the appointments!!)

I am just simply perplexed by these strategies. How on earth will sign language help him be understood at school when neither the other children or the teachers use sign language?? We have also found that walking around with an iPod is just not really practical in a preschool situation.

I feel like I’m banging by head on a brick wall because I just want the speech therapist to help him speak!!

I realise that treating apraxia is a long, slow process. Buster gets so frustrated with people (including me) constantly correcting him…He actually does try his absolute hardest to repeat the word the way it is supposed to sound….but he just can’t seem to do it. Listening to him struggle just breaks my heart. It seems that the speech therapist has given up on the possibility that he will ever be able to speak fluently, and is trying to provide other options for communication….but I’m not going to give up on my little boy!

Yesterday I called the speech pathologist that my daughter saw. I was prepared  to literally beg her to see my son. Unfortunately she no longer sees clients…but she did give me a recommendation to a speech therapist who trained under her and specializes in Apraxia therapy.

Although this new speech therapist was ‘full’,  thanks to this recommendation, I was able to get an appointment for an assessment with this new therapist…..Suddenly I have a reason to feel hopeful again!!

I am willing and determined to practice with Buster. Buster’s preschool teacher is also prepared and enthusiastic to support him at preschool with the same strategies. His support system is in place and is raring to go! Now, I have my fingers crossed (and everything else!) that this specialist in Apraxia can give us some techniques and a structured and effective plan of therapy to follow. ..

….I’m not going to give up.

I'm sharing this post over at Mumma Grace for Flog Yo Blog Friday.... There are some great posts up today!!