Developmental Dyspraxia in Children

Hello K. B
I am a Learning Coach www.opendoorlearningcenter.com and I have worked with children and adults with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and the like. Many of my clients with Dyspraxia have trouble with learning the Dolch words in Kindergarten. The clients who come to see me are usually visual-spatial or kinesthetic learners and they find a word like "mat" easier to learn to read and spell than "their". I would get the book called The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis. Mr. Davis has developed a method of teaching the Dolch words in a multisensory way. He also has a balance exercise which helps build coordination with Koosh Balls being tossed from parent to child. The Davis Method is an intervention used outside of school. I hope that you have a good support system to help you to help your child. The difficult part is that you need to be one step ahead of the school. You are on the right track to explore every possible avenue for your child. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that the intervention your child gets at school will ever be enough. I say that because I get my clients as a result of the school system doing all that they can do and the child is still struggling.
www.davisdyslexia.com

A friend of mine is the Lead Speech Therapist at ABC Pediatrics in West Chester, Ohio. You can look at their website: http://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/ or call ###-###-####. You could ask questions about what you can do at home, etc.

Hi K.,

My daughter was also diagnosed with these two things early, and the list continued to grow as she aged. Not saying that this will happen to your son, just that it is quite common for this to be the initial diagnosis, especially if this came from the school district and you have not had a private evaluation.

I would suggest that you contact your local children's hospital and make an appointment with a developmental pediatrician, this will be the most comprehensive evaluation you can get him, and you can be sure that you have not missed something now that you could get early intervention for, which you will regret if you miss. You should never depend on the school district to do all the evaluation that you need, and you should always know more than they do about your son. Owning your own evaluation is crucial for getting him all the services and therapies that he needs. You will always need to supplement what the school gives him with private services because the school is not required to maximize his potential, they are only required to make him functional in the classroom, so you will always want more for him than they are required by law to give him.

You should also not be surprised if his issues evolve with age. Stay vigilant, as soon as you think you have a handle on it, it may change.

M.

Hi,
I can't remember the difference between Apraxia of Speech and Dyspraxia. . . my son has Apraxia and we've started a local support group in Columbus. We meet again April 9th at 7pm at the Ronald McDonald House next to Nationwide CHildren's hospital. A great resource I would recommend you go to is www.apraxia-kids.org. TONS OF INFO!
If you have any other questions you can email me personally and I'll help as best I can. THere is a developmental pediatrition at children's who specializes in speech/neurological disorders - Dr. Amy Newmeyer - I would recommend you see her.
Hang in there!!!
T.

Bal-a-vis-x we just recently tried. It involves using balls and beanbags. Our community just happened to offer a class. I had been looking before but couldn't find it anywhere. How about tumbling or karate? There are some organizations that offer classes for kids who may need accomodations or just not the heavy duty class. Anything that helps with movement or helps with strength. Start a love of hiking or biking. The parks sometimes have bike rentals where you can even use a tandem bike.

Keep pushing and maybe they will give more clues. It's so great to hear a mother who wants to be envolved. So many I know think tha's the teacher's job. We are their first teachers after all. I am surprised they don't welcome your help. Maybe they think yor trying to butt in. Even so it's your child so I say butt away. I am sorry I do not have any info to help you. But do check out through your PTA. I know from my days as PTA pres. there are workshops all over Hamilton County that deal with all kinds of learning disabilities. I am sure your county will have something too.

You have to go in and talk with the therapist and tell them you want these ideas for home. They should give you written material with ideas. My son was in speech and they sent home a monthly calendar with something on each day for us to work with him. The school should do this for you.

I would get your own specialist involved with the program that the school has comprised for your child. There may be something to add or change to the program. Please don't leave it up to the school. Many schools have failed children and parents, remember you are your child best advocate and a specialist will monitor your childs progress year after year, verses the teachers changing from year to year. Also the specialist can help you with working on a plan for home. I hope this was helpful. Educating yourself and finding your own proffessional is always the best way to go. I'm glad you are a very involved mom, thats what it takes.