A five year olf with verbal apraxia

Does anyone have any experience with verbal apraxia?  While my son has made a lot of progress over the years with his speech delay, he is still not understood well by many.  He is in a private nursery school now and is well behaved and social despite his weakness.  Next year we will go to kindergarten , so I am very sensitive as to what is the best situation for him.  He appears to be smart, so I do not want to deprive him of an education, but I do want him in an environment which is supportive and stimulating.  I am hoping in a couple years this will all sort out?  I have not heard of older children with this issue, but maybe I have just not been exposed.  

[g8r grl]

Has he been considered for a self-contained language class? He could have been enrolled in the public school system as a Pre-K student when he was 3 years old (at least that is how they do it in FL). My son is 20 months old and we're in the process of getting him diagnosed with what I believe is apraxia. Incidently, I'm an SLP at a public elementary school. What are the odds that an SLP would have a child who is apraxic? It blows my mind and I'm still trying to cope, to be honest. The worst part is trying to explain it to people and they don't seem to understand. I always get the "but isn't that what you do? and your kid doesn't talk?"

Consider a self contained class with a better student/teacher ratio. The self-contained teachers will be able to understand your son better because they're used to it...at least that's my experience. I often wonder if the students on my caseload are getting more intelligible or if I'm just getting used to them!

Keep me updated on what's going on! I'm very interested in your situation...

[jdtm]

I can't help you here but I have a five-year old nephew who also suffers from verbal apraxia.  It is difficult to watch him struggle so with simple things as talking.  Nonetheless, his teacher is aware of his disorder and the other children seem to be very accepting but, I too, worry about the future.  I expect our nephew will struggle with speech issues his entire life.  I did find some examples of older children speaking on the internet - can't remember the sites but they do speak easier as the years passed.  

[MaryG71]

if you want to talk to an adult with verbal apraxia, email me.  i found learning sign langage very beneficial.

[Janita60]

My grandson is diagnosed with aproxia. He has attended preschool for the past to years and they gave him speech therapy throughout the two years. I have seen a great improvement with it. Although like you not too many people understand him like I do. They told me that he will continue with speech class even in kindergarten. So my advice to you is GET HIM A SPEECH THERAPIST. Ask the school for help on this they should be more than willing. As long as you and your son dont let it get you down. You will be fine. Keep a positive outlook and give out lots of love and support to him, and remeber that you are not alone in this. I am raising my grandson myself and it is difficult and at times heart wrenching but it will be fine. Good luck.