Parent experience at an apraxia diagnosis
It’s been over eleven years identifying as a parent to a child diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech. I’ll never forget that fateful day. I missed her apraxia as an infant, despite being a speech/language pathologist before she was born. I knew she was delayed. Oh yes, I was keenly aware of it. Every well-check visit the list of milestones she was meeting grew shorter and shorter. I worked with her almost every night. Though she made progress, progress was so slow. I blamed myself.
I finally raised my white flag before her third birthday and took her to Child Find. That’s where the SLP would inform me, “Laura, this is apraxia.”
Apraxia
Forever etched into my brain is that one statement. I remember it hit me like a ton of bricks. I also remember knowing instantly it was true. The amount of therapy Ashlynn was getting from me with only minimal results didn’t make sense, unless, apraxia.
I grieved most of that year. I grieved so many things. I grieved my seemingly failure as an SLP. I grieved she would have to work so hard just to speak. I grieved she would always throughout her entire life live with a communication disorder. Then guilt appeared for grieving since she was at least healthy, happy, and still my same beautiful child.
Years later, I would learn of the term “disenfranchised grief.” I did a talk with Dr. Iuzinni-Seigel for speechpathology.com and she introduced me the term. Disenfranchised grief is grief with no place to go. This is EXACTLY how I felt.
I’ve since learned that many other parents feel relief at diagnosis. The journey was so long and so hard they had to fight to find an SLP who would listen to them.
Since the Apraxia Diagnosis
It’s been a long road since those early days. I picked myself up and kept putting one foot in front of the other. At some point I woke up and realized I have a private practice, A Mile High Speech Therapy, specializing in CAS. I wrote a book called Overcoming Apraxia that is now part of college coursework in speech pathology. I have given workshops nationally and internationally. Most of all though, Ashlynn is still my amazing ray of sunshine. Her beautiful smile, tenacity, and attitude toward adversity have taught me more than anything could.
Many parents want to attend my workshops but the cost is prohibitive. Workshops and webinars can cost 100’s if not 1000’s of dollars for attendees. Furthermore, many workshops are not open to parents. That’s why I’m so excited to announce my newest endeavor called Apraxia Space. For just $75.00, parents and caregivers get access to at least SIX online live webinars given by myself and another apraxia specialist. Guest lectures are already scheduled along with live parent presentations of their apraxia journey. In addition, there will be a 24/7 private online community.
We have participants WORLDWIDE from Italy, Australia, and Canada! Registration for this first founding member cohort ends April 1st. Be sure to save your spot! Register here: https://apraxia-space.mykajabi.com/
I look forward to seeing you there!