Talk of the Town: Gossip Queen & Child Development Expert Answers your Most Pressing Questions.
Today’s Topic: Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
Monday, July 16th 2014
By Staff Writer
Dear Miss Talks-a-Lot:
My 3 year old son has so much difficulty talking. It’s like he knows what he wants to say, but he can’t quite get the words out. Everything else [developmentally] seems to be right on target, yet he just jibbers and gestures. What could be going on?
–Frustrated in Colorado
Dear Frustrated in Colorado:
It sounds like your son may be suffering from Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), this neurologically based motor speech disorder is characterized by the inability to connect thoughts with verbal output. It’s as though the child knows what he wants to say, he just cannot coordinate the muscles of articulation with his brain. Often, kids with CAS will gesture or create their own words and phrases to get their needs met. Your best bet would be to have him evaluated by a qualified speech-language pathologist(SLP) who has a background in childhood apraxia of speech. From there, you will receive an official diagnosis, a treatment plan, and suggestions for next steps.
Dear Miss Talks-A-Lot:
I have heard of this new book, SPEAKING OF APRAXIA and wonder what your thoughts are?
–Curious Mom in Missouri
Dear Curious:
So glad you asked! SPEAKING OF APRAXIA was published in 2012 by Woodbine House, a leader in producing quality special needs books for parents, professionals, and caregivers since 1985. It is my understanding that it is the first non-academic book designed exclusively on the subject of CAS. Written by mom and former child/adolescent psychiatric RN from the Mayo Clinic, this book embodies everything the author, Leslie Lindsay thought about, worried about, and learned about during her course of raising a daughter with CAS. She wanted a book when her daughter was diagnosed, but was disappointed in the options available. Plus, she wanted to help others walking the same path. SPEAKING OF APRAXIA truly is a labor of love. It has received national and international recognition from SLPs, parents, and educators. A Georgia-based parent says:
“A comprehensive encyclopedia on childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) & self-help book for both parent and child. In addition to having over 400 pages full of facts, Leslie chronicles bits & pieces of her own daughter’s journey with apraxia.”
Anita, a speech-pathologist in Sao Paulo, Brazil shares, “Few professionals know Apraxia. Many children are without diagnosis, teachers and educators and parents completely unaware. I bought your book and loved it, it is very practical and thorough and sure I can use with parents of my patients….surely, it will be very useful for all children with Apraxia.”
For more information, or to obtain your own copy of SPEAKING OF APRAXIA (Woodbine House, 2012), head over to http://www.amazon.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com, (in-store, too), as well as http://www.woodbinehouse.com
[this is a mock newspaper article. The quotes are real, but names have been changed to protect privacy.
Speaking of Apraxia 