2 year old with apraxia -non verbal.

[Anonymous]

My two year old has hypotonia, sensory processing & apraxia. What social groups or classes do you find helpful? We were just diagnosed with apraxia last week. Any tips would be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My two year old has hypotonia, sensory processing & apraxia. What social groups or classes do you find helpful? We were just diagnosed with apraxia last week. Any tips would be great.

A SLP who uses the PROMPT method was very helpful to us. We also work with Kelly Dorfman, a nutritionist in Potomac. Supplements have been very beneficial for DC for all of the issues you list. Good luck! Depending on the degree of hypotonia, there is a clinic that is supposed to be great at Kennedy Krieger, or maybe it is Hopkins. Should come up when you Google.

[Anonymous]

I would nix the nutritionist recommendation; save your money. PROMPT is usually best with kids with physical issues in forming words. Most kids with speech delays are low tone. You definitely need an OT (occupational therapist) and a SLP (speech language therapist).

My kid is/was in the same boat. I love the speech camp they offer at National Speech:
http://www.nationalspeech.com/#!__camp

Where do you live OP?

[Anonymous]

If your DC has been diagnosed with apraxia, I second the recommendation for a PROMPT certified SLP http://promptinstitute.com/index.php?page=what-is-prompt. At 2 years of age, my DS had very few words and those he did have were difficult for someone unfamiliar with him to understand. He was diagnosed with a delay and began speech therapy shortly afterwards. He made very slow progress and at age 3, he was diagnosed with apraxia. It wasn't until he was 4.5 that we started working with a PROMPT certified SLP. We'd had good SLPs before but the PROMPT SLP was the best. She identified foundational problems the other SLPs had not identified and not addressed (like his tongue protruding on certain sounds and his jaw 'sliding' when he verbalized). He made significantly more progress than with the other therapists. He's now 6 and his motor control for speech production is far better. His biggest challenge now is related to how he processes language and since the PROMPT therapist is an SLP, she is also addressing that.

The PROMPT method seems to be the better approach for kids with apraxia. Since apraxia is a disorder involving motor planning and control, it would make sense to use a therapy approach that works to address the motor challenges with speech production. Our developmental pediatrician also thought it was a good approach for apraxia and he thinks highly of the practice we go to - Children's Speech and Language Services (Springfield/Arlington). http://www.cslstherapy.com/ I actually learned about PROMPT and CLS from this forum!

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Prompt therapy. Don't just rely on county services, also supplement privately if you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Private and at age three, U of MD Leap program (we are there now and LOVE LOVE LOVE it). We were going to do the National Speech but they were not having many younger kids last summer so they discouraged me and Leap is significantly less money. I wish I did it last summer.

[Anonymous]

@18:19- I would be interested in hearing more about the nutritional recommendations you received from Kelly Dorfman. Also, did she mention anything about food sensitivities/allergies interfering with proper speech development?

@20:22- does UM Leap offer PROMPT?

[Anonymous]

LEAP does not do PROMPT. But kids get three sessions of speech therapy a week. As an FYI, they do not take kids on the spectrum.

[Anonymous]

My son has apraxia, hypotonia. Prompt is key!

[Anonymous]

Wow! Thanks for all the tips. We live in MD (frederick) and my husband works in DC. We use to live in alexandria but moved here a year ago. Just found out our insurance only covers like 16 visits a year. Don't ask me how im suppose to afford OT & speech every week....what a bummer.

[Anonymous]

If money is an issue due to insurance (or otherwise), call infant and toddler program. Here is the link to Frederick County.

http://frederickcountymd.gov/index.aspx?NID=2498

[Anonymous]

OP, it definitely helps with low tone kids to activities like swimming or gymnastics. It's not a replacement for OT, but definitely helps.

[Anonymous]

He has been with infant & toddlers for awhile now. The speech therapist said he was stubborn and they refused me services for months. After his diagnosis they are willing to come out once a week - but the therapist made it clear she is not trained to really deal with apraxia but would still come out for support.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for a new therapist but also seek outside services (this is why we didn't bother with them). He isn't being stubborn but he may not be ready to talk or something else medically going on.

[Anonymous]

I have a 3.5 yo with apraxia. We have paid a small fortune in speech therapy. We found that at least 3 sessions a week is critical. I highly recommend additional therapy sessions outside of what the county gives you. We have also done Omega 3 supplements. I haven't seen Kelly Dorfman but have read up on supplements. May see her in the near future.