Just recently I heard about dyspraxia, and it sounds a lot like some of the problems I've had all my life. All through school I had a major problem with my handwriting. It was hard to read plus my writing was so slow I had trouble finishing exams that required significant amounts of writing. No amount of effort made my writing much better. I've also had problems with my speech, especially when I'm tired or feeling stressed. I'm easily distracted by any sounds. I was told in elementary school by some lady who evaluated me that my motor skills were so bad I'd never make it through Junior High School, but I didn't listen. :razz:
I have apraxia of speech. I hate this, but there's nothing I can do about it. Fortunately my gross motor development is fine. I also have problems with my handwriting (fine motor skills). Don't ask me to thread a needle...
I also had hyperlexia, but at school and today have problems reading and writing smoothly/evenly/consistently. My therapist seems to have understanding of my stuff lately. She's been very kind and accommodating.
Karms, my oldest son has apraxia of speech and still has some fine motor issues, no real gross motor issues. He went from an expressive level of a 4-5 month old when he was 28 months old to now over 5 at an age-appropriate level and from 22 months old level for receptive to age appropriate about a year ago. His only area of issue is he has a moderate delay in phonology/articulation. It has improved though a fair bit as it used to be severe, we started giving him Nordic Naturals ProEFA Liquid (fish oil with Essential Fatty Acids with the recommended ratio of EPA to DHA for those with apraxia and on the autism spectrum) and it helped him a fair bit. What is it like to deal with apraxia of speech later in life? May I ask how old you are? Just curious as we'll likely be dealing with this for Dylan for a long time and figure a lifetime.
I'm 30. Although they say it's different for every person, here is how it affects me...
Some days, my speech is smooth and other days it is very hampered, with lots of blanks. I mostly notice this during therapy sessions, where I spend a lot of continuous time talking. I also get nervous while I talk when I have a "bad speech day" and this makes the condition even worse, with longer blanks and inserting a lot of "how do you say"... "uhhm"... "you know what I mean" and all these senseless phrases to fill the time gap while I am actually busy thinking of the correct word I'm trying to retrieve from my head! Although I know that this symptom is also related to Tourette's as a vocal tic. I don't have an official diagnosis for Tourette's but I match the criteria perfectly, so I won't be surprised if I have that. Oh.. and I hardly make eye contact while I talk, because I am concentrating really hard on my speech!
Basically when I have a "bad speech day" people, especially my family, get very impatient because it is hard for others to bear through my communication. But other than that, it doesn't really affect me much. My therapist has understanding for this, so she doesn't show any frustration while I am getting my tongue and words in a knot.. she just sits there patiently and waits for me to make my point. I am very verbal, so there is at least sense coming out of my mouth most of the time (hopefully! lol)
Obviously, I wouldnt know what people are thinking in their heads.. perhaps they might think I've been drinking :lol:
But because I am on citalopram hydromide, alcohol is out of the question for me... sigh..