{"id":793,"date":"2012-05-31T16:32:10","date_gmt":"2012-05-31T16:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=793"},"modified":"2015-12-31T09:12:28","modified_gmt":"2015-12-31T17:12:28","slug":"an-interview-with-jakes-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/interviews\/an-interview-with-jakes-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"An Interview with Jake’s Journey – A Mom’s Experience with Apraxia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tori<\/a>

Courtesy: Tori S<\/p><\/div>\n

This week we\u2019re featuring Tori S. of Jake\u2019s Journey to Be a Little Man<\/a>, a blog that chronicles the life of Tori\u2019s son, Jake. Jake has apraxia<\/a>, which is a motor speech disorder that interferes with his ability to form individual sounds and words. Apraxia is not caused by poor oral muscle development, but rather by a miscommunication between the brain and the muscles. So while Jake understands what he wants to say, his brain has trouble signaling his muscles to make those sounds. In our interview, Tori discusses the home-based speech therapy techniques that she uses to help Jake become more verbal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve blogged about how much Jake enjoys using Tiga Talk, an app for apraxia. Have you noticed a difference in his articulation and\/or self-confidence with the use of this app? Does Jake use other apps for speech therapy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tiga Talk was the first speech app I bought at the recommendation of a fellow blogger. In September of 2011, when Jake turned three, he had a 5-10 word vocabulary and the only word he used on a consistent basis was \u201cpizza!\u201d From September until December of 2011 he worked on consonant-vowel combinations, so getting Tiga Talk in January this year was a natural fit for him to help strengthen basic sounds. Also, just to clarify, Tiga Talk would be a good app for a child with any type of speech disorder\/delay. It\u2019s not just for kids with apraxia.<\/p>\n

In February I bought the Speech-EZ Apraxia Program app. Two days a week he has speech therapy for thirty minute sessions and primarily works on Kaufman cards<\/a>. I wanted something that I could do with him at home that reinforced what he was learning with his SLP, but I was afraid if I bought my own set of Kaufman cards, he would get bored. The cost of Kaufman cards and Speech-EZ was about the same, so after much debate, I decided to go the iPad route. This program is essentially flashcards and hand cues.<\/p>\n

In the next week I\u2019m going to get some new speech apps for the summer. I know there\u2019s a lot of free\/inexpensive apps that are good. I\u2019ll keep you posted on my blog! I think that the iPad has been a vital tool in improving Jake\u2019s articulation, but it\u2019s been only one piece of his therapy regimen. He gets excited when he succeeds at a game where his voice determines if he \u201cwins\u201d or not, which has to build his self-confidence in his speaking abilities.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got to admit though, he doesn\u2019t just play speech games! He\u2019s also a Temple Run addict and is so proud when he gets a high score. So far, his highest score is 218,000. That wows me … especially when my two older sons score just a little higher than their little brother.<\/p>\n

What are some of the other home-based speech therapy activities you do with Jake? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Through trial and error, I\u2019ve learned that Jake can say his words best when we go through the entire Kaufman list without a break. For the past month or so, I sit outside on the patio with him or lay in bed propped up on pillows, and I say each word on my list and he repeats it after me. When he completes 100 words or so, he gets to do a fun activity. Our SLP, however, has said before we can move beyond the first set of Kaufman words, he has to be able to look at the picture on the card and \u201crecall\u201d what it is. He really struggles with this.<\/p>\n

So, this week I got out the card stock and made about 150 flash cards with the words that he needs to master. I used some of our own family pictures, took pictures out of his favorite books, and got the rest from Google Images. I also typed the word at the bottom of each card, hole-punched the corner, sorted each set by sound in order from easy to difficult, and then attached each set with a metal ring. My other son practiced his sight words this way when he was in kindergarten and he loved quickly flipping through his words. I thought I\u2019d try the same for Jake. Maybe using flashcards in this way will be more engaging for him. I’m blogging on it this week<\/a> if you\u2019d like to check out the details.<\/p>\n

\"Tori's<\/a>

Courtesy: Tori S<\/p><\/div>\n

Jake will be four in three months. It is very important to me that he moves past this first set of Kaufman words soon, so I\u2019m going to shoot for reviewing these cards seven days a week. That way, if I miss a day or two, we\u2019ve still got a lot of practice in. I can also do different games with these cards if he starts getting bored.<\/p>\n

Last, I\u2019ve learned that encouraging proper speech ultimately has to be an all day, every day, way of life. It doesn\u2019t stop when you\u2019re at the park, grocery store, running errands, cleaning house, doing laundry, etc. If Jake says a word wrong or points\/grunts, I make him say it the right way to the best of his ability. That takes some practicing to live your life that way! Also, I try and not let him watch a lot of television, although with two older brothers, it is hard to keep him away.<\/p>\n

After the initial evaluation, you learned basic sign language. Does Jake still use some sign language or any other AAC device?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We only used basic sign language<\/a> in the beginning, although if I had to do it over again, I wouldn\u2019t have been so against it. I thought signing would give him incentive to sign for things instead of trying to talk. After seeing what great results we\u2019ve gotten from hand cues in speech therapy, however, I think signing would have been a good idea from age two to three when he was basically silent.<\/p>\n

Now, he uses only two signs … “I love you” and “I\u2019m sorry.”\u00a0 These are two vitally important phrases for a Lil\u2019 Man to know! He does not use a AAC device and no one has ever recommended one to us.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve mentioned that undergoing a test like the Kauffman Speech Praxis Test is quite stressful for Jake. What advice would you give to other parents who are trying to emotionally prepare a child for a test?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a hard question and I don\u2019t really even know the answer myself! I do know that it is also very stressful for me and next time, I told my husband he\u2019d have to take my place! Maybe Jake senses my anxiety and responds accordingly. I\u2019m not sure. I\u2019ve never actually talked to him about it because I didn\u2019t want to draw attention to the \u201ctest,\u201d but next time since he will be four and more mature, I\u2019ll probably take a different approach.<\/p>\n

\"Jake<\/a>

Courtesy: Tori S<\/p><\/div>\n

Jake was previously uninterested in using flashcards, so you turned them into a version of musical chairs instead to engage him. What are some of the other tricks you use to keep him practicing his words?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is constantly changing because Jake gets bored easy! I am always searching for new games and activities on blogs, Google and Pinterest. But, you can modify just about any game into a speech activity if you just think outside the box a little bit. I\u2019ve also learned that at home it is always best to mix it up as much as possible because after he does an activity two or three times, he loses focus. (Loses focus = running around laughing instead of saying his words.)<\/p>\n

With that being said, for the past month, he\u2019s gotten bored with his Speech- EZ iPad flashcards, which was why I tried the version of musical chairs that I read about in Leslie Lindsay\u2019s book \u201cSpeaking of Apraxia.\u201d This book is packed with a ton of at-home activities that I can\u2019t wait to try. Summer is going to be a great time to experiment.<\/p>\n

There are a few \u201ctricks,\u201d however, that have worked on a consistent basis. We listen to Kids\u2019 Express Train KET SET 1 in the car and I purchased this CD because our SLP recommended it. Each song has a different speech agenda, which is great for reinforcing whatever he is having trouble on in speech. We even used music to help him say his name and age because he\u2019s always struggled when people ask him this question. My mom came up with a jingle that says, \u201cMy name\u2019s Jake. I am three.\u201d One day I\u2019m going to video him singing it and put it on my blog. It’s so cute!<\/p>\n

Last, but not least … books! I\u2019m very lucky because Jake has always loved books. Over the past month or so, I\u2019ve started asking him questions about pictures on the pages. Six months ago he couldn\u2019t answer me, but now many times he is able to respond. If he doesn\u2019t say a word correctly, I break the syllables up and over pronounce it. He will repeat it after me. If he\u2019s having a lot of trouble with a particular word, I make him say it a couple of times.<\/p>\n

Having a child diagnosed with a speech disorder takes some adjustment. How have your other children coped with it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out of all of the worry and heartache that apraxia has caused me, Jake\u2019s brothers have never been anything other than supportive and helpful. Maybe it\u2019s because they are older (8 & 14) or maybe it\u2019s because they are male and feel the need to \u201ctake care\u201d of their little brother who\u2019s not quite like everyone else. (Sometimes a good thing because he can\u2019t say all the bratty things that the average preschooler says!) Maybe it is because Jake, for the most part, is a good child with a sweet laugh and an easygoing spirit. For these reasons, I feel incredibly blessed.<\/p>\n

And while each boy can make me crazy in their own ways, it amazes me that they have never acted jealous or complained about the extra attention that their brother requires. My eight-year-old plays with him every day after school and is very patient with him. I am most proud that he is sharing his gift of building things with Legos and teaching his little brother to follow in his footsteps. My fourteen-year-old is practically a SLP in training when he puts his mind to it. He\u2019s actually the one who started breaking sentences up and encouraging Jake to say each word to the best of his ability, a process I later learned was called scripting. I videoed the two of them together about a month ago on my blog practicing words. Never mind that he makes him say obnoxious things like, \u201cYou. Are. My. Favorite. Brother.\u201d :)<\/p>\n

\n

Having a child with apraxia has absolutely been a lifestyle change for all of us and we have had our fair share of ups and downs. Overall though, we have adjusted and have pulled together to fight this puzzling disorder.<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As Tori points out, it\u2019s indeed important to cherish the fun little moments and avoid having your child\u2019s speech disorder become his whole identity. Be sure to check out Tori\u2019s other tips and resources on her blog.<\/p>\n

Thanks so much, Tori, for sharing your story and your wonderful tips for home-based speech therapy activities!<\/p>\n \n \n \n \"Free<\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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