Chatty Hyena Thread (Everyone's welcome)

[dizzyami]

Hello Hyenas,

Looks like it's time to start a new thread soon. I will create a new one and PM all of you

Thanks Pix. I was quite suprised when I logged on this morning and we were still clinging on to this thread

 

[dizzyami]

Cool pics Pix (say that 5 times fast)

I can't belive someone on there called Disneyland a bizarre place???

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I was close - but I was ok. Usually I am crying because I am so upset and it doesn't seem like the people have the knowledge or resources to help


I am super excited!!! I love his teachers this year and this speech therapist is absolutely amazing. Apraxia is very unknown (so much that of his last 2 therapists the first one NEVER HEARD OF IT, and the 2nd knew of it )

Basically with apraxia they describe it like this. Say you have the satellite sending in the signal to the tv to put the show on your television. The satellite and the tv work fine, but there is a disconnect with the cables, and by the time it reaches the tv it is all garbled. DS knows what he wants to say - but by the time it reaches his mouth to articulate it it doesn't come out right. The thing with apraxia is with intensive speech therapy the kids can end up speaking 100% - it just takes time and lots of therapy. Unfortunately it is therapy we can't afford (insurance will cover 40% after we meet I believe a 15K annual deductible ) Even the speech therapist we had for a while didn't know too much about it - so it is hard to find someone even qualified, and then foot the bill.

Since it is mainly repetition of sounds (that he needs practice with) his teachers can also help (they only have 9 kids after the 1/2 day go home), and the aides they get can work with him too

Awesome. What a major score for him this year!

The reason I mentioned sign language is because one of my college professors worked with sign language in primates, including chimps as well as autistic children. There was a child who was highly autistic and pretty much incommunicative, and using sign language and other techniques he made significant progress with the child, reasoning that just because there was a disconnect between the brain and the tongue didn't mean the child didn't comprehend or have language skills. (Chimps in particular seem to have the ability to understand language, but their mouths and tongues are not shaped to facilitate speech.)

 

[dizzyami]

Awesome. What a major score for him this year!

The reason I mentioned sign language is because one of my college professors worked with sign language in primates, including chimps as well as autistic children. There was a child who was highly autistic and pretty much incommunicative, and using sign language and other techniques he made significant progress with the child, reasoning that just because there was a disconnect between the brain and the tongue didn't mean the child didn't comprehend or have language skills. (Chimps in particular seem to have the ability to understand language, but their mouths and tongues are not shaped to facilitate speech.)

Here is the crazy thing with DS. He created a very elaborate sign language system for himself probably before he turned 2. Once you know the kid you know 100% of the time what he wants. This year his teachers were a little reluctant that they would know what he wanted, I assured them to give it a week - and sure enough he can communicate very effectively (100% on his IEP), just not verbally.

Would "real" sign language benefit him....probably yes, but we have one concern (at least right now with all the therapy). There are 2 legit signs that he knows, and he has never once tried to articulate the word. (He doesn't have to, so he doesn't try). These are "help" and "sorry". We deep down are concerned that if he learned a way that was technically easier for him, he would settle and stop trying. (I know that is a crazy thing to assume - but this kid is definitely special)

The other problem with sign language is since he is mainstream with all kids and teachers (and probably 99.9% don't know the sign language) I am not sure who he would communicate with.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=27490531#post27490531 Here is our new thread. I hope I PM'd everyone but just in case, here is the link. I hope you guys have a great day- back to work I go. ixiedust

 

[dizzyami]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=27490531#post27490531 Here is our new thread. I hope I PM'd everyone but just in case, here is the link. I hope you guys have a great day- back to work I go. ixiedust

Thanks Pix - have fun at work....and my guess is calling you ix is out