SLPs who specialize in Apraxia (CAS) in the DC area? New mom here, all help appreciated!

[Anonymous]

We have searched apraxia kids dot org and reached out to a few places. But would love some recommendations from the community here. Maybe what we should ask when talking to a SLP?
We are all new to this and just trying to navigate. My girl has been seeing a SLP for the last year with little progress and now that they have a suspected a diagnosis of apraxia I hope we can find someone who may be better suited.

Would love if someone took BCBS but also know we most likely would have to pay for services.

Also, around how many times a week do you all send your kid to speech for apraxia? I keep reading/hearing conflicting things and I want to go in knowing a bit more before just telling a place here take my kid and checkbook.

Thanks for all your help

[Anonymous]

My DS (now 16) has apraxia. He began ST when he was 2. I learned about the PROMPT treatment from DCUM when he was probably 5. I have to say that it wasn't until he started seeing a PROMPT certified SLP that he really made progress. The SLP didn't always use PROMPT but it was an effect took in her toolbox. My DS's intelligibility improved but I have to warn you that if your kid really does have apraxia, progress will be S.L.O.W. Improvements are small and take a lot of repetitions and homework. You cannot expect the brief amount of time you spend in the therapist's office to really do much unless you spend consistent time at home doing the exercises/homework.


A lot of what we did at home was standard for ST but it helped a lot to understand the whys behind it. We were also clear that our goal wasn't just to improve speech/language but to ensure our DS wasn't made to feel bad for his challenges or to discourage him from speaking. Depending on his age (and mood), we spent no more than 5-10 minutes a day correcting his language and then only in announced, pre-scheduled times ('we will practice sounds at 4:30'; 'now is the time we are spending 5 minutes practicing sounds. Do you want to set the timer or do you want me to?'). Every other time, we simply repeated what he said in the correct way or asked a clarifying question. The goal was to ensure he remained positive about using his voice.

We used Children's Speech and Language Services and were really happy with them. The did not take insurance at the time but helped by filing the forms. HTH and good luck!


https://cslstherapy.com/

[Anonymous]

I know from a friend that the popular apraxia speech therapist is in Annapolis.

https://www.speakinannapolis.net/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS (now 16) has apraxia. He began ST when he was 2. I learned about the PROMPT treatment from DCUM when he was probably 5. I have to say that it wasn't until he started seeing a PROMPT certified SLP that he really made progress. The SLP didn't always use PROMPT but it was an effect took in her toolbox. My DS's intelligibility improved but I have to warn you that if your kid really does have apraxia, progress will be S.L.O.W. Improvements are small and take a lot of repetitions and homework. You cannot expect the brief amount of time you spend in the therapist's office to really do much unless you spend consistent time at home doing the exercises/homework.


A lot of what we did at home was standard for ST but it helped a lot to understand the whys behind it. We were also clear that our goal wasn't just to improve speech/language but to ensure our DS wasn't made to feel bad for his challenges or to discourage him from speaking. Depending on his age (and mood), we spent no more than 5-10 minutes a day correcting his language and then only in announced, pre-scheduled times ('we will practice sounds at 4:30'; 'now is the time we are spending 5 minutes practicing sounds. Do you want to set the timer or do you want me to?'). Every other time, we simply repeated what he said in the correct way or asked a clarifying question. The goal was to ensure he remained positive about using his voice.

We used Children's Speech and Language Services and were really happy with them. The did not take insurance at the time but helped by filing the forms. HTH and good luck!


https://cslstherapy.com/

DS also received PROMPT through CSLS from 19 months to 6 years old. He’s 13 now. They are wonderful. We have BCBS standard. They bill at the time of service, but do submit to insurance so you get a check from BCBS for each session.

[Anonymous]

Our DS is now 14. He has CAS and is doing wonderfully. Nobody would ever know he struggled with speech. He was treated by Stacy Fleischman who is an expert in CAS and an absolute miracle worker. I’m sorry I don’t have her number. She is in Rockville but used to do home visits. If you do a search here, you might find her contact info. I’m not sure if she’s still practicing.

I’m glad you found Apraxia Kids. It was a literal lifeline for us. DS did private speech, LEAP preschool at UMD, and county speech all at once. So I think he had 4-5 sessions a week. Once we went all in, the progress was remarkable.

[Anonymous]

It’s been a while for us but Kirsten Metzger Gilbert was a miracle worker for my apraxic girl (she’s now 17). I think this is her info. Kirsten is a star. https://buildingblocksei.com/

[Anonymous]

My kid has apraxia. He started speech therapies & county services since he was 2 when he was nonverbal, once he could speak, progress was a lot faster. Right now at 7, I think he only has some problems with long syllables words or some sounds like "th" and "r". Other than that, he can communicate and talk quite well.

He still cannot blow a balloon or do some mouth shape, and that is due to his oral motor. Someone, he manages to make the correct sound by overcoming with his oral motor deficiencies. We started with 2x/week speech therapies when he was nonverbal, and then go to 1x/week speech therapies at 4, and I am thinking to drop it maybe at 8/9. The therapist knows prompt but they don't take BCBS.