Category: Uncategorized

What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech ( CAS)? 

Deborah A. Chalifoux, MA, CCC-SLP

 

 

 

Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that makes it hard to speak. The cause of Apraxia is unknown. If a child has apraxia of speech, it can take a lot of work for them to learn to say sounds and words better. Speech-Language pathologists or SLP’s can help!

 

There are muscles in the mouth and jaw that are used to make sounds. Messages that tell these muscles how and when to move need to go from your brain to your mouth in order for speech to occur. In some children, the messages do not get through correctly. Although their muscles are not weak, the child might not be able to move their lips or tongue in the right ways. This is because the brain is having difficulty coordinating the appropriate speech muscles. As a result, these children have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words, and sometimes might not be able to say much at all. When this occurs, a child is said to be experiencing “Apraxia of Speech”, or “Childhood Apraxia of Speech” (CAS).

 

Signs and Symptoms

 

 

 

  • does not always say words the same way every time;
  • tends to put the stress on the wrong syllable or word;
  • distorts or changes sounds;
  • or say shorter words more clearly than longer words

 

Children with CAS may have other problems, including:

 

  • difficulty with fine motor skills;
  • delayed language; or
  • problems with reading, spelling, and writing.

 

Seeing a Professional

 

If you are concerned that your child may have CAS, consult your local school district’s office of special services, or find an ASHA certified-SLP in your area on the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) website: www.asha.org/profind. A certified-SLP who has knowledge and experience with CAS can conduct a full evaluation of your child’s speech and language.  He or she can diagnose CAS and rule out other speech disorders. If you suspect CAS, you should also consult with your pediatrician, who can check for any medical problems. In addition, it is also important to have your child’s hearing checked by an audiologist, as a child with a hearing loss may have more trouble learning to talk.

 

Benefits of Speech Therapy

 

CAS is sometimes called “developmental apraxia.” Even though the word “developmental” is used, CAS is not a problem that children outgrow. A child with CAS will not learn speech sounds in typical order and will not make progress without treatment. If your child is diagnosed with CAS, an speech therapy treatment plan can be made with your SLP. It can take a lot of work, but with the appropriate treatment, a child’s speech can improve!

 

Other Resources

 

The above information was taken from the ASHA website.  To read ASHA’s full article on CAS, please visit: www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/childhood-apraxia-of-speech/

 

Additional websites with info on CAS are:

www.apraxia-kids.org

www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/apraxia-speech

 

–Deborah A. Chalifoux, MA, CCC-SLP

 

 

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Distracted Parenting

 

Social Media is without a doubt a very useful tool to communicate with the world on a grand scale! FB  and Instagram posts have become a part of our day and replaced many real-life interactions with families. This phenomenon is known as Technology Induced Inattentive Parenting.   In fact, over the last 5 years, studies on the subject have multiplied!  Making the Internet and modern parents usage of it, the focus.

The impact distracted inattentive parenting has on social development has been and is being researched right now.  And some results are not good.  Delays in speech/ language and cognition.  Anxiety and depression.  And some behavioral disorders.  As well as a higher percentage of injuries associated with Repeated incidents labeled as “inattentive parenting”.  But without the internet?  You probably aren’t reading this now!

The answer to parents is a better balance.  But how?  We know less interaction and response to the child’s attempts to ask questions has a negative effect on a child’s development. Study after study is finding evidence that the increased use of cell phones during family time is showing negative impacts on parent-child relationships. And studies have now shown, the use of handheld technology is common today for over 60% of children in the  6 to12 age group.  That group when polled reported their parents are often distracted by cell phones or tablets when children try to ask parents questions.  This is not the most positive trend.

A child’s behavior is his/her language. Non Verbal children especially have additional challenges in expressing their frustration and emotional distress.  Being distracted by technology is the same as being inattentive to the many cues children use to communicate. Can you imagine the impact on babies and toddlers? 

Babies come into the world wired to communicate.  Newborn infants instinctually look to their parents to begin to understand the sights and sounds of their brand new world!   So much is happening for them all at the same time. Learning to trust and learn from the adults in their world who meet their needs for feeding, diaper changing, comfort, and learning too! If a child cries it is to communicate a message to his/ her parent and how that parent responds sets a tone. This is the basis for trust in all parent-child relationships! Babies as young as newborns; look to their parents’ facial expressions to gain important information and most social cues!  Being distracted by our phones as the baby is attempting similarly sends a message. 

Studies have shown distracted parents often miss critical signs or social cues from their babies before crying. Putting the child’s safety and emotional health at risk. For them, interaction is necessary for their Survival!  Repeated incidents of disengagement can have lasting impacts on parent-child bonding and relationships later in life. 

So is the answer to throw away all of our devices?

Probably too extreme.  But, there is a very sound reason to consider creating a better balance between parenting and helping our children flourish.  And extremely important reasons why! 

Taking the time to ignore a text to interact with an infant may be potentially devastating for the text sender.  But for your child?  It is another example of how paying attention to the smallest thing can help avoid thousands in therapy! Or at least shift the focus of conversation! 

In part two of this Mama talk?  More about what helps our kids grow.  And ways to avoid the most common detractors of a Parent’s attention!   

Dianne Galante is a Former NYS Infant/Toddler Resource Network Specialist for Long Island.

Wait.. What’s Happening? How to avoid conflict on the playground or anywhere else! 

Do you find yourself getting anxious at the thought of going to the playground with your preschooler? Play Date Panic setting in? Worried that your child may get hurt or hurt someone else? Find yourself hovering over your little one anxiously worrying anticipating a fall or a fight? Find out how to deal with conflicts on the playground, Pushy Parents. meltdowns and the dreaded …It’s time to go but your little one outright refuses to cooperate! Find pro tips and tricks Mama 2 Mama that actually work! Real Talk Real Solutions …. Coming June 17 

““Studies have shown distracted parents often miss critical signs or social cues…

Dianne Galante

Early Childhood Educator

Out of the mouths of Children! Watch Reactions Reunion Recovery 

Watch and listen ——————————

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Going back to school and public Policy

The Impact of New Laws and Policies that Will Shape our Future! 

 

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the way Communities and Governments are dealing with the new realities of a society struck by Covid 19.   With no one quite sure about the direction of anything today!  Add to that the various sources of information and misinformation?  Anger both displaced and justified?  Who could blame anyone for wondering which path to follow or who to believe?  There are mixed messages everywhere!   And no one knows exactly which sources can be relied upon?  Confusion leads to frustration.  Frustration leads to angry conversations and counter arguments.  And soon we are at the point where we are more confused than we began!  For families with toddlers and school aged children.  This is a need to know topic!  

As an Early Childhood Program Development Specialist and Child/Family Advocate.  A part of my responsibilities were to know and understand existing policies.  Advocate for change when needed.  And help families better understand and navigate educational systems with others where they would intersect with work and family life.  Often assisting families where public policy intersected with individual life experiences and collective community shared experiences.  By bringing your stories and perspectives as a community from the field to inform Public Policies that impacted family’s daily lives. Because whether we realize it or not?  Every position we take on a topic has implications beyond our own family table!  WE drive social interaction and policy.  And that comes with more responsibility than we may recognize. When we understand the power of a collective voice for change?  We parents and policy makers begin to understand the need to be informed, open minded, and effective.  For the kids.

Having spent decades in the field as well as interpreting the data to present to policy makers.  I can clearly relate that there were pathways and systems already in place for better or worse.  Laws and regulations already in existence that serve as a guide to frame the discussion and response also, for better or worse.  So how can we impact that?  And what are the rules and regulations that inform systems of education and how they impact families? What happens in a Public Health Emergency like Covid19 and beyond? And more importantly?  What happens when those comforts of stability and predictability are taken from us?

For parents, the main issue is how do we advocate for our children’s individual needs while not losing sight of those whose needs may be different than ours? Because we are all connected!  Respectfully and effectively dialoguing with support professionals responsible for educating our children traditionally is key.   The practices we will implement now must reassure Educators that their health and safety is paramount to us as well!  The challenge with all these voices at the table is how do hear them all while maintaining respect for everyone!  For the good of children, families and the professionals who strengthen and support the kids must use this opportunity to make schools better through Covid19 and beyond!

 Covid19 has created an environment many of us could never have even imagined! Changing lives in what felt to most of us like a split second. Parents thrust into the role of teacher, mental health professional, coach, and activities counselor in an instant have been overwhelmed!  School Districts scrambling to switch to an online learning model within days, were overwhelmed.  Families of children with special needs left to make sense of a new method of learning and Service Delivery at the same time. All the while wondering if their children would lose valuable interactions that make it possible for their children to thrive.  With little to no warning or preparation. Our Children have been thrust into this new reality on the fly!

The negative results on our children is many are “falling behind” and experiencing trauma.  A direct result of forced isolation and quarantine. Online learning models that were developed rapidly in response to a public health emergency will have problems.  And as parents know, some of our children struggled to adapt.  Teachers tasked with meeting the needs of every child in the new format struggled too.  And parents were pushed to the brink of exhaustion!  All affected mentally AND emotionally by our new circumstances.  But we have survived.  The goal now becomes using our new experiences for good!

What school and educational settings look like in a Covid19 world without a vaccine is the thing.  While some parents have organized themselves into opposing teams between those that want to go back to the traditional classrooms pre-pandemic.  want children to return to classrooms as quickly as possible.  And others wary of what that could mean for the health of their kids and themselves wondering is it even safe to consider now?  The fear being too little is known about this epidemic to feel confident in sending children to school at all!  No one knows what the right answer is.  And currently not enough information is available to tell us what the implications of returning children to classrooms are long term.  

This is just an educated guess and opinion, but it does not seem likely that children should be returning to traditional classrooms anytime soon.  For their safety or ours.  Parents and educators collectively addressing the needs of children during such uncertain times are tasked with the unknowable.  But we must take what we learn together and decide as a community where we go from here?!

The laws and regulations already in existence serve as the foundation upon which we begin our advocacy conversation. Most of those regulations were born out of tragedy and forced change.  Meaning they should be familiar with working under pressure to serve communities.  Those regulations are a ground floor so to speak.  On which we will build and enhance learning environments.

The negative part of that is though many of the guidelines and regulations are changed periodically.  Many haven’t changed for decades and generations!  The challenges facing a new economy were already stretching the effectiveness of Public Education.  Working together to redefine our shared goals for providing a future for our children was already necessary pre-pandemic.  And even more necessary now!  We can work together to define our shared goals for our children in a pandemic environment.

We started this journey with overcrowded classrooms with resources spread too thin.  Stressed out teachers and students lacking technology in many Districts was causing many students to fall behind of the modern learning curve!  Covid19 has cleared out the classrooms and put the onus of providing most daily resources on parents. Many who now hold a greater appreciation of the Professionals charged with educating our kids. That is a good thing!

Survey after survey we find that Parents and Teachers are united in their desire to do what is best for kids. Priority in a Public Health Emergency is ensuring that social distancing, proper hand washing procedures, and face coverings be utilized minimally appropriately.  Where in person schooling is implemented?   Class sizes will need to be reduced!  With large gathering spaces repurposed to accommodate the need for social distancing.  Staffing will need to increase to ensure the health and safety of children in smaller groups reducing the likelihood of an outbreak.  And well thought out procedures must be in place for if/when an outbreak occurs. No small undertaking when you consider that in NYC alone there are 1,126,501 students, the largest school district in the United States. ( schools.nyc.gov). Long Island there are 230,430 in Suffolk and Nassau County has 199, 305. Areas with dense populations will face tough challenges! 

September is less than 60 days from today. Therefore, parents, educators, advocates and administrative staff need to join forces to rethink the all or nothing us vs them mantras that divide us clouding our way forward that won’t benefit us or our children at all

Understanding the enormity of the task ahead will go a long way in how we come to grips with what lies ahead of us.  Acknowledge that your voices have been heard by decision makers. Do what you can to make today a little less stressful for your children and you. Consider that It may be time to pivot the conversation from “Let’s get these kids back to school now!”  To “What are we going to do if that is not a feasible option?”  And be vocal about what policy makers can do to make it possible for working families to return to work peacefully knowing our children are safe, sound and learning!  It is going to take a collective voice to decide the future for our Families.  Be the change.

 

 

Dianne Galante former Infant/ToddlerEarly Childhood Program Development Specialist.  NYS Health and Safety Curriculum Approved Trainer. PITC and Touchpoints Community Trainer. Former Contributor to LI Parent Magazine.  Nanny and a Mama! 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfectly Imperfect!  Pt.2 

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE 

 

 

Part 2 of a 3 Part Series About our Kids and Families Fighting an Epidemic.

Let’s begin again with the obvious.  Parenting in Crisis is stressful beyond words!  Parenting during a global pandemic?  Well, that almost defies description! As a young single mother with a passion to really help families in meaningful ways over time I was labeled by some as “solution girl”.  A term of endearment claimed proudly because it meant that there were answers out there for building relationships within families that were real and useful!  And being a part of that meant in a small part some of my personal goals were being met!  But those were different times, unlike today.  When there are no guardrails or tried and true methods to improve upon.  We are all in the same place.

Well-intentioned advice proceeded by phrases like “It will be ok” and “you will get through!” or my personal favorite “Just fix it, get it, buy it, Do it, etc.” are the expected response to today’s version of parental angst.  My guess is most of us reply in our heads “Yeah right or if I could!”.  Thus, ending most productive dialogue.  Just to add another layer to this, words like this can often stir up feelings of inadequacy and dread!  Not particularly useful when problem-solving. Not to mention potentially damaging too.  Wine anyone?  Though the intention may be to motivate, encourage, and make the problem seem less overwhelming, right?  It all depends on how you look at it. When faced with challenges big or small.  The strategies that we choose can make all the difference.  Parenting during a pandemic is like walking a tight rope with no net! Families are being forced to face challenges head-on in real-time with limited resources, financially and emotionally which is a big game-changer when trying to problem-solve or resolve conflict peacefully. The good news? We are all in it together and together we are better!

When breaking down a problem that needs attention, it is helpful to first allow yourself time to take in the information.  Usually before the wine kicks in.  Give yourself a pause even if only for a second or two before reacting. This allows the brain and heart a moment to get on the same page so to speak. A moment’s pause can change perspectives and outcomes dramatically.  Time is a valuable commodity that is often undervalued. Pandemics have a way of stopping us in our tracks and forcing a pause, time to reevaluate priorities and for some a Mind Shift! How do we come out of this crisis a better version of ourselves? How do we give our children the tools that they need to not only cope with their new situations but come out stronger! More resilient… confident capable. Ready to contribute first within our own families and later when appropriate within their peer communities.

What do we mean by resilience?   What does it look like in the real world, in times of crisis?  We often hear sayings Like “Community Strong” or “Smith Family Strong” which when we hear them gives us feelings of belonging and strength! Knowing we are not in it alone can boost our courage to face what comes as well as provide a sense of relief that we can make it through whatever obstacle was in our path!  We all need encouragement to keep us moving forward!  We just need to take that saying and give it life, meaning, and depth when we are dealing with our children during a crisis! Here are a few suggestions that can help build competence and emotional well-being for both our children and us.

Parental Resilience is defined as the ability to constructively cope with and bounce back from all types of challenges. Creatively solving problems, knowing when to reach out and seek help when needed, building trusting relationships, and maintaining a positive attitude.  The last part is particularly challenging when our go-to comforts are not available for us to draw upon.  As resources dwindle and human beings are being pushed to the brink of exhaustion. Words without concrete support to hold them up or actionable next steps to take toward resolution have a real-life boomerang effect that we must recognize for what they are.  Our new responsibilities.  Words without actions are empty because they are out of reach, out of touch, and often anxiety-producing.  Creating a mind shift by facing parental stress head-on with constructive tools that build strength and mental toughness is the only solution!

Working closely with families of essential workers through this crisis has taught me things that I will never forget.  My families are a daily reminder that how we respond to stress is more important than the source of the stress when it comes to determining healthy outcomes. Our children are watching! If you model proper safety practices like healthy eating, proper handwashing routines, work/play balance, open communication, and rest/ relaxation your child will mimic you in most cases and reap the benefits! These are the building blocks that allow our children to become independent leaders while learning the process of helping others deal with new situations positively.  Children are missing the comfort of predictable daily routines and human connection as are we.  They are looking to us for answers and support as they try to cope with so much change, loss, and grief.  So questions are inevitable but also a sign of trusting relationships! If a child feels acknowledged and safe? They will ask questions!

Some children may need some help along the way as they search for words to express what they are feeling. Keep it Simple and answer what is asked as best as you can. Try to resist the urge to elaborate whenever possible. By not elaborating we respect the child’s natural curiosity and avoid the “landmines” of opening a conversation which your child may not be ready for at this time. Trust your parenting and have faith that your child can deal with new and unfamiliar situations with you as their “go-to person.” Family Strong!

 

Dianne Galante former Infant/ToddlerEarly Childhood Program Development Specialist.  NYS Health and Safety Curriculum Approved Trainer. PITC and Touchpoints Community Trainer. Former Contributor to LI Parent Magazine.  Nanny and a Mama!