Ajudando a criança apráxica

Summary

In this video, Patricia Taranto, a speech therapist, discusses how to support children diagnosed with apraxia. She emphasizes that while these children have preserved cognitive abilities, they face challenges with motor planning, which affects their speech. Patricia suggests various activities, such as using sensory tools, repetition through music, and graphic exercises, to help improve their speech skills. She also highlights the importance of using songs, rhymes, and tactile methods to reinforce learning. The video provides practical advice for both therapists and parents to assist children in their speech development journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apraxia is a neurological disorder affecting motor planning, but children with apraxia have preserved cognitive abilities and understand commands well.
• 😀 Children with apraxia struggle with speech motor execution and articulation, which is not related to their intelligence but rather to their motor skills.
• 😀 Repetition can help children with apraxia practice sounds, but it should be engaging to avoid frustration, as children often get tired of repetitive tasks.
• 😀 Incorporating tactile activities, such as tracing dotted lines with fingers or crayons, can help children practice speech sounds in a fun, engaging way.
• 😀 Associating sounds with images or actions can enhance the learning process. For example, using an image of a bee for the 'Z' sound can help children make connections.
• 😀 Incorporating music into speech practice, such as singing songs with specific sounds, can assist in reinforcing speech patterns through rhythm and melody.
• 😀 Rhyming games and songs are useful in helping children with apraxia by strengthening their sound recognition and repetition skills.
• 😀 The use of sensory activities, including taste (like using food textures) and touch (like small objects or rolling movements), can assist in speech development by providing physical feedback.
• 😀 Children with apraxia often struggle with fine and gross motor coordination, which can impact their ability to perform tasks like drawing or coloring.
• 😀 Repetition should be combined with other activities to make it less tedious, such as using toys or incorporating storytelling to make the process more interactive and enjoyable.

Q & A

What is apraxia and how does it affect children's speech?

Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that affects a child's ability to coordinate the movements required for speech, despite having normal cognitive abilities. Children with apraxia understand commands but struggle with articulating words due to motor challenges in their speech muscles.

What should parents remember when helping a child diagnosed with apraxia?

Parents should remember that children with apraxia have normal comprehension and cognitive abilities. The issue lies in the motor coordination required for speech. Therefore, helping them with speech exercises that focus on sound evocation and motor repetition can be beneficial.

Why is repetition important for children with apraxia, and how can it be made engaging?

Repetition is crucial because it helps children practice and strengthen the motor pathways required for speech production. However, repetition should be engaging to prevent the activity from becoming tiresome. This can be done by incorporating fun activities, like tracing shapes while making sounds, or singing songs that emphasize certain sounds.

How can music and songs help children with apraxia?

Music and songs help children with apraxia by providing a rhythmic structure that makes it easier to recall and produce sounds. Singing familiar songs allows children to practice sounds in a fun, structured way, which aids in memory recall and reduces the pressure of traditional repetition.

What are some examples of activities that can help children practice sounds through repetition?

Activities like tracing shapes or dots while saying specific sounds (e.g., 's') or using songs that emphasize certain sounds (e.g., 'k') are great ways to practice. These activities combine motor movement with sound practice, making the repetition more dynamic and engaging.

How can parents incorporate tactile activities into their child's speech practice?

Parents can incorporate tactile activities by using small objects like rice-sized candies or textured items that children can manipulate with their tongues. These activities help children develop awareness of where to place their tongue and how to produce certain sounds, adding a sensory layer to speech practice.

What role do rhymes play in helping children with apraxia?

Rhymes are helpful because they provide a rhythmic pattern that makes it easier for children to recall and produce sounds. The repetition in rhymes also helps children practice target sounds in a fun and engaging way, reinforcing their speech skills through melody and rhythm.

Why is it important to consider a child's fine and gross motor skills in speech therapy for apraxia?

Children with apraxia often face challenges in both fine and gross motor skills. Since speech involves fine motor coordination (like moving the tongue and lips), activities that improve motor skills, such as drawing, can help strengthen the connection between motor actions and speech production.

How can sensory experiences help children with apraxia improve their speech?

Sensory experiences, such as tactile, gustatory, and visual activities, can help children with apraxia by stimulating the sensory pathways involved in speech production. For example, using food to engage the child's sense of touch and taste, or drawing shapes that require motor coordination, can support speech development.

What are some practical tips for parents who are trying to help their child with apraxia at home?

Parents can help by incorporating activities that combine repetition with engagement, such as tracing letters while saying sounds, singing songs that emphasize target sounds, and using tactile activities with small objects. It's also helpful to create a consistent routine and make the activities fun to keep the child motivated.