Apraxia

[landlubber]

My 18 month ds 2 ticks all the boxes for being apraxic, although the neurologist says it is too soon for a diagnosis, but he has just had an EEG and hearing tests for exclusion purposes. I have always been aware that he has never babbled and have mentioned it at his check-ups. He seems to be on target for all the other milestones understanding language, following instructions, walking, motor skills, feeding himself etc However he makes himself understood and is signing of which I am now doing more. As to sounds, he has a few, no real words, although occasionally the odd word seems to pop out, but usually not to be repeated.

There have been threads in the past on this subject but nothing recently. Is all this sounding familiar to anyone else, and what are you doing about it? My LO is going to start speech therapy, and it is suggested he goes to a nursery of some sort a couple of times a week. I am researching on the Net to see what practical advice is out there. Meanwhile I would love to hear from anyone who is or has experienced this problem, what advice they can give.

Best wishes to everyone, Landlubber

[Chundle]

Hi my dd is 2 next week. She sounds a bit like your ds and we have been told it's 'more than likely' verbal dyspraxia/apraxia. At 18 months she had one or two words. She now has about 30 words but can't combine then an her words all sound very similar so it's very hard to tell what she wants. Sh also use the same word for different things which is very confusing!
She does a few makaton signs and also makes up her own and she has a small pecs book which has been a great help in getting her to say words x

[landlubber]

Hi Chundle, thank you for your reply, it is always comforting to know one is not alone. The only sounds ds makes at the moment are ba and da which are used for everything. Until very recently he didn't say anything when you asked him about what he was seeing in a book, but now he 'answers' pretty much all of the time with his da or ba, which one depends on the day. He has very clear ideas about everything, and either nods or shakes his head, he points a lot and pulls one to what he wants. He is tending to throw a wobbly if he doesn't get his way, I think a lot of it comes form his frustration. I find I am being more lenient with him than I was with ds1, if it is really bad I have put him in his cot to let him cool down, I don't know what else to do at his age. I'm hoping that as he signs more it will work out, and the speech therapy is going to start in a couple of weeks.

Sorry for my ignorance but what is a pecs book ?

Anyway, best of luck to you and dd. X