Due to the craziness of May, I forgot that Apraxia Awareness Day was yesterday.

For those of you that don’t know, Emily has severe Speech Apraxia. Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for children to speak. These children generally have a good understanding of language and know what they want to say. However, they have difficulty learning to carry out the complex sequenced movements that are necessary for intelligible speech.

Emily was officially diagnosed when she was 4 years old. She has had intense speech therapy with several different therapists. She has had so much therapy you would think she would be further along but she’s not. This diagnosis has been the most difficult and challenging one. I know she knows so much more than she can say. It is truly heartbreaking. I can usually figure out what she’s saying but not always. And when I don’t I can see the sadness in her eyes.

We recently switched to a new therapist with a lot of experience with speech apraxia. I am amazed at how many words and phrases Emily can say clearly. She has those words but when it comes to a natural conversation she can’t get them out. Sigh.

We are not giving up even though there are days that I’m just done. I’ve seen the light. I’ve heard the words. I know they are there. We just need to keep helping her get them out. I need to stay patient and calm. It’s so hard. Frustration is often felt and I need to hold it back. We need to keep working on breaking the habits she has created with her speech…the motor plans she has formed. We need to keep practicing the correct motor plans even when they are so much harder for her. We have to keep moving forward…practice practice practice (much to her dismay). She has so much to say. I need to help her get those words out.