Apraxia

For years we took oldest our daughter to various doctors, experts, speech therapists, and even a chiropractor to find out what was wrong with her. She has a speech impediment, delayed motor skills, and trouble with bathroom control. A number of people suggested to us that she may have Dysarthria, sort of a delayed development of her muscles and nerves.

Yesterday she was screened and accepted into a speech therapy program at the Monroe Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Our insurance company had refused to cover speech therapy unless there was evidence that her need was caused by some kind of trauma after birth. Imagine a 4 or 5 year old having to undergo MRI tests to rule out spine and brain damage. Finally, she is being sponsored by a family friend who's a member of the Scottish Rite, it's sort of like the Shriner's.

As a theologically conservative Lutheran, I've certainly always had my qualms about Free Masonry and any other secretive, quasai arab, quasai occult fraternal organizations. Be that as it may, I thank God for these people and their charitable work, otherwise, we'd never be able to afford to get her the help she need.

The specialist at Monroe Meyer said that from his examination, he thinks that it is more likely that our daughter suffers from Apraxia.

Damage to the corpus callosum, frontal lobe, or parietal lobe of the human brain produces a category of deficits called apraxia. Literally, the term means "without action," but apraxia differs from paralysis or weakness that occurs when motor structures such as the precentral gyrus, basal ganglia, brain stem, or spinal cord are damaged. Apraxia is the "inability to properly execute a learned skilled movement" Neuropsychological studies of the apraxias have provided information about the way skilled behaviors are organized and initiated.

There are four major types of apraxia two of which will be discussed in this chapter. Limb apraxia refers to problems with movements of the arms, hands, and fingers. Oral apraxia refers to problems with movements of the muscles used in speech.

My best guess is still that this was caused by having her umbilical chord wrapped around her neck during her birth. Part of me is bitter that the HMO didn't have their doctors taker her by C-Section much sooner than they did, but I know that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28) and that God has a plan to use this to His advantage to bless my daughter, and others through her.

I'm told that Apraxia is sort of a cousin to Dislexia. That makes sense. Grace writes most of her letters fine, but instead of saying "Macaroni and Cheese," she says "Ronimac and Cheese."

If you're a family member or a friend, this is the latest information that we have. We hope that it helps you understand some of what she's going through and why she is the way she is. Our prayer is that the new, aggressive speech therapy will not only help her verbally, but socially, emotionally and academically as well. Thank you for your continued prayer and support.