My 3yr old has dyspraxia?

Question

Hi All

My 3 yr old son has been having regular speech therapy for about a year now. His speech therapist has said that he is almost certain to be dyspraxic. Can anyone tell me what i now need to do and know so that i can get him the help he needs. I thought this only effected his speech but having browsed the internet (the worse thing to do when you're upset) i realised it is a lot more than that. Please give me any advice you can. Thanks

Answer 1

I would try to help him communicate in any way possible.  You could try teaching him sign language

I answered another question similar to this one, and this is what I wrote:

You could try to teach him/ American Sign Language (ASL). People develop motor control before they can talk. Signing Time is a great series for this. Rachel Coleman, her deaf daughter Leah, and Leah's hearing cousin Alex help children develop ASL vocabulary in a fun way. They also have a sister series called Baby Signing Time, which is structured differently. It is more engaging for young children (like 0-3). All of these will help your child in language and may boost their IQ (Intelligence Quotient) scores.

Baby Signing Time previews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHwg17I2h... - Diaper Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqpXt14RV... - Here I Go

Signing Time! previews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adbOR9Tuj... - Leah's Farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ikdqNVoC... - Nice to Meet You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLytj7PNj... - Groove with Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGF3iC0o_... - Caterpillar Dreams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVcJHv32i... - Colors of the Rainbow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnG-7w54L... - Colors of the Rainbow FULL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6DZqUSGY... - Colors of the Rainbow LIVE (concert - full song, but being filmed by someone in audience - less quality)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ornprjjJU... - Proud To Be Me (Tree-House Mix)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4FakMDZu... - Spring Into Signing Time! (only available on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX6DKkdJe... - Happy Valentine's Day from Signing Time! (only available on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGc1K_ti... - Signing Time Halloween Signs (only on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRua_Jpy7... - Thanksgiving (only on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcZLDnpnx... - Happy Holidays from Signing Time! (only on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfDVisAz... - Silly Pizza Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h1ZvzC03... - Silly Pizza Song II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGHLvfw4b... - Signing Time! Counting (clip from an episode)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iipc_bbs6... - Happy Birthday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz95IBA_6... - My House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHPYSSO5x... - My Things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_u6JXAxO... - Helping Out Around The House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfforbbKC... - Who Has The Frog?

http://www.signingtime.com/publictelevis... - Signing Time's old public television website--it has a preview for each season 1 episode

Media Coverage of Signing Time!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1RBU-QGV... - Teacher Helps Babies Get Early Start With Language

http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.... - Signing Time! Media Coverage page

Official YouTube channel for Signing Time!:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SigningTime

About some of the things the Signing Time Foundation does

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG9LX3G63... - Leah is going to Ghana, Africa

http://www.signingtimefoundation.org - Signing Time Foundation website

http://www.signingtimefoundation.org/gha... - first page of Rachel's Ghana journal

Signing Time site stuff:

http://www.signingtime.com - Signing Time site home

http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.... - Intro Video

http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.... - Signing Time - Our Story

http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.... - Testimonials

http://www.signingtime.com/benefits/ - Benefits of Signing

http://www.signingtime.com/img/AboutST.w... - About Signing Time (Windows Media)

http://www.signingtime.com/img/AboutST.m... - About Signing Time (Quicktime)

http://www.signingtime.com/index.php?cPa... - Signing Time store

http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/ - Rachel's Blog

http://www.signingtime.com/blog/ - Signing Time company blog

http://www.signingtime.com/forums/ - Signing Time forum

http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.... - Public Television - See if it's on the PBS channel where you live! (you need to know your ZIP code)

Other ASL resources (dictionary):

http://www.lifeprint.com

http://www.aslpro.com

http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/...

Sorry that's it's long, I just wanted to help! Signing Time is a GREAT series, and NO child should be denied it. Any child, no matter what their abilities can use it to learn sign language vocabulary. I hope you consider my advice and choose Signing Time for your child. You do not need to buy Signing Time to watch it if it's on PBS where you live. Otherwise, you will probably need to buy the DVDs to watch it. It will NOT delay your child's speech further (contrary to popular belief), and you will not regret it!

Answer 2

look on the website

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/

in addition to what everyone posted here...this website has info on every aspect of the condition.  Also has parent info and help.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I would talk to your sons doctor.  That would be the best and smartest thing for you to do.  Call and make an appointment and talk to him about it and see what you need to do.    They can probably do further testing on him to  make sure thats what it is and refer you to a specialist.  I would call your sons doctor as soon as possible for an appoinment.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

I have 2 sons that are dyspraxic.  Both receive speech.  My oldest is 7.  He was dx age 2.  My middle son is 33m and is dyspraxic to.  My oldest does talk and is easily understood.  Basically dyspraxia is a motor planning problem from the brain to the mouth.  My son sometimes has pressured speech (fast) and sometimes it takes a while for him to answer.  Be patient.  I was told not to rush his answers and to give him 45 seconds without interrupting for his response.  Sometimes minutes later he would come up to me with a response.  I am just thankful it isn't worse.  I do know apraxic kids that can't talk at all.  Also both my boys are mildly autistic and I am thankful when I look at how severe it can be.  Dyspraxia is not so bad.  He will have a full functioning life, and it won't stop him from anything.  Are you using a z-vibe?  If not getting one will help.  My oldest did not really begin talking much till 5.  We did signing and pecs cards.  For 3 years he had speech evaluations come out below the 1st %tile.   At 7 he now uses sentences that are age appropriate 6-10 words long.

Dyspraxia is not apraxia.

They are on a continuum.

typical-----dyspraxia-------apraxia

Apraxia prefix a being without dyspraxia is prefix dys difficulty with as in dyslexia (difficulty reading) or dyspnea difficulty breathing, apnea cessation of breathing

daniv23 hasn't a clue.  Of course it is congenital, dyspraxia is much milder than apraxia, and if this person is a speech therapist knows even less than I do.  None of my 3 kids were referred by their pediatricians, I referred all of them myself, and this is frequently the case.

Answer 5

Dyspraxia is also known as apraxia.  As a speech therapist, how are the session going with your son?  Is he able to communicate at the level of his age appropriate group (3yr old)?  With a diagnosis from a speech therapist, I am surprised your primary care physician did not catch your son's decreased motor abilities.  Since you did not say, I will assume your son's assumed apraxia may be acquired.  Check with the primary care physician, and he/she can do other tests that will allow them to determine what is the problem and you can go from there.....GOOD LUCK!