[tri-med] Re: Any info on Dyspraxia?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jwaite" <
> Alex has never stuttered but his speech was (and sometimes still is) very
> muddy. Some people have trouble understanding him.
> But often if we say 'Alex your speech is muddled' he can clear it up some 
> by
> paying attention....maybe not being lazy with his speech?

Alex does this as well but I always cut Aussie Alex a bit of slack with this 
if it starts happening at the end of a long day. I think we all tend to 
forget that it takes a lot more effort, energy and concentration for Alex to 
listen, speak and do those things that the rest of the world take for 
granted. I equate it to others as being like having cerebral palsy or even 
doing something new for the first time. Every step, every aspect requires a 
lot of focus, concentration and effort to get it right. If we do that we 
will get it right but we quickly get fatigued as a result. When that happens 
we start being less precise and / or making mistakes. Our actions become 
"muddled". (ever come out of a heavy meeting and simply gotten tongue tied 
with the simplest phrase?) Its the same for our kids, except you need to 
replace the new with speaking. They simply have to concentrate harder to do 
what we take as automatic.

As a result I have had to make Alex a morning person (his mother isn't 
believe me!! and I dread the teen years) He does his best work early in the 
day, if he needs to function well late at night (eg if he has to speak at a 
function) I try and get him to have a nap first.

Another trick, which I had forgotten that we do until I was talking to 
Elizabeth, is to make Alex brush his teeth. He has an electric toothbrush 
and just brushing his teeth is "therapy" for speaking as it stimulates all 
the nerves and muscles of the mouth and makes him very aware of where his 
tongue is in his mouth. This in turn improves his speech and makes the whole 
speaking thing easier for him. A regular toothbrush will work, but an 
electric toothbrush is much better because of the fast repetitive movement.

Actually Michelle, Alex himself coined the term "muddled" for both his 
speech and how his brain feels when his speech is muddled. I understand what 
he is trying to say but I had a hard time trying to empathise with how he 
actually felt. If you remember we started Alex on Ritalin to help with the 
"muddled" brain after the neuro psych testing said that he had ADD (not HD). 
It works. I have "experimented" with giving it to him (not giving it to him, 
giving it to him, secretly giving to him and giving him a placebo) - he can 
definitely focus better, he is less distractable, less fidgety and his 
dyspraxia is much less noticeable after he has taken it. Another side 
benefit is that his mood towards doing a task that he has to concentrate on 
(eg schoolwork) is a heck of a lot better. The doctor said that it lasts 4 
hours but we find that the effects last much longer, essentially all day.

I am not a fan of ritalin or any drug thats not essential but after weighing 
up the benefits and what was kinder to Alex (essentially asking myself why 
was I against it - was I truly replacing something that was inherently 
missing or did I feel like a "failure" because he needed it) I decided that 
if he was a diabetic I would give him insulin, and although this wasn't life 
threatening it was much the same sort of situation. I do now give in and 
give it to him before he starts his schoolwork. If I forget Alex will remind 
me as he definitely prefers to do schoolwork after he has taken it. I still 
feel guilty but thats my problem not Alex's.

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
                                            -- Josh Billings

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (12 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
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