Kekoa's Journey With Childhood Apraxia of Speech: New Sounds

Monday, July 11, 2011

New Sounds

One thing that is common with a child who has Apraxia is that words may come and then not come back again. We've heard Koa come up with all kinds of responses that would shock us, or make us laugh, and then we never heard them again. For instance, one time about 7 months ago, I looked at Koa and said, "Hey buddy, you ready to go moi moi (Hawaiian pidgin for 'night night')?" He looked me clear straight in the eye and said "No Thanks." It was that precise, that clear. I was taken aback. "No thanks?!" I repeated. And immediately his mouth closed tight and he got that unsure look about his face. From that point, I never heard anything again sound even remotely close to it.

But now, Koa's been making some really good approximations for words that Martin and I both understand and we know he's using with purpose.
I can even start to list a few:
Mama (my favorite!)
Dada
Ses (for Sissy)
Dih (for Dini the Dog)
Dah (for dog)
Eeya (for ear)
Eeee- tuh (for eat)
Che (for chip... how he learned that one I'll never know)
Shhzzz (for shoes)
Pih (for Pig)
Peez (for Please)

There's a few others too that I know he can somewhat say, but I didn't want to list them or mark them off just yet, just because he's not consistent enough in using them. I wanted to make sure that the words I list (for progress and milestones sake) are words that we know without a doubt that he could say over and over again and know that what he's saying has actual meaning to what the word is.

He's getting there. Its still a journey, but he's definitely getting there.

P.S. Koa's also started to blow away some of our family members with how well he's been doing with the Kaufman cards (basic level)... if only I could get a video of it to post on here, that would make my day!! Unfortunately, Koa clams up as soon as he sees the camera. :( I'll get it though, stay tuned!!

Koa and Mommy, July 1

2 comments:

bbbunchJanuary 4, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Just found your blog today and had to comment :) My son is 27 months and will have pop out phrases occasionally too...it makes us laugh because it can be so shocking to hear! I have heard my son (who still doesn't consistently say "Daddy") say 'crocodile' clear as day when playing with a crocodile little people figurine. It used to make me really sad when the words would disappear, but now it gives me hope. Those words are in there, and they will come out again :) All the hard work will come together for them!
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Martin & Grace VuJanuary 21, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Hi! Is your son currently in speech therapy? I have to admit, Koa's come along, a lot further than I have ever thought, but he too has a outburst of words or phrases that still catch me off guard! :) But sometimes I'll sit in on his therapy sessions and hear him say some words that I have never, ever heard him say (such as "People" or "Money") but he says with precision with his therapist. Unfortunately, that's one aspect of Apraxia that can be so frustrating. You're right, the words ARE there, they just aren't always being used because its not usually just easy to use it. :( But our boys will come in their own time. Till then, I wish you all of the blessings for your son. He's still young and that is a great benefit for both of you. Starting with them young can only be beneficial!
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Definition of Apraxia per CASANA

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a neurological motor speech disorder. For reasons not yet fully understood, children with apraxia of speech have great difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined and specific series of movements of the tongue, lips, jaw and palate that are necessary for intelligible speech. Apraxia of speech is sometimes called verbal apraxia, developmental apraxia of speech, or verbal dyspraxia. No matter what name is used, the most important concept is the root word "praxis." Praxis means planned movement. To some degree or another, a child with the diagnosis of apraxia of speech has difficulty programming and planning speech movements. Apraxia of speech is a specific speech disorder.

The act of speech begins with an intention to communicate. Next, an idea forms, outlining what the speaker wants to say. The words for the desired message are put in the correct order, using the correct grammar. Each of the words are comprised of a specific sequence of sounds (also called phonemes)and syllables that must be ordered together. All of this information is translated from an idea and information about order of sounds into a series of highly coordinated motor movements of the lips, tongue, jaw, and soft palate.

The brain must tell the muscles of these “articulators” the exact order and timing of movements so that the words in the message are properly articulated. Finally, the muscles must work properly with enough strength and muscle tone to perform the movements needed for speech.

In typically developing speech, children make word attempts and get feedback from others and from their own internal systems regarding how “well” the words they produced matched the ones that they wanted to produce. Children use this information the next time they attempt the words and essentially are able to “learn from experience.” Usually once syllables and words are spoken repeatedly, the speech motor act becomes automatic. Speech motor plans and programs are stored in the brain and can be accessed effortlessly when they are needed. Children with apraxia of speech have difficulty in this aspect of speech. It is believed that children with CAS may not be able to form or access speech motor plans and programs or that these plans and programs are faulty for some reason.