Have you ever had a moment with apraxia when the baby steps of progress just seemed to stall out all together?
This happened to me when my son Jake was four years old. He had been working on the same set of words for one full year and although he mastered most of them, he had started to regress. The words and sounds were being lost … and starting over from the beginning made me want to bang my head against a wall.
Jake had a remarkably quiet demeanor during his toddler years. When he wasn’t beaming a big muted smile up at you, he was speaking in garbled baby talk that was at least 90 percent unintelligible.
The first two years of speech therapy were extremely frustrating because I never felt like we were getting anywhere. A word would be gained, a word would be lost, and progress was S.L.O.W.
Right after Jake turned four in the Fall of 2012, however, things started to turn around for us. For the first time since we began this journey, I saw a real glimmer of hope. That hope came from pediatric SLP and apraxia specialist Lynn Carahaly and the Speech-EZ Apraxia Program. I love that so much of her emphasis is on the brain and how to use it to the best of your advantage when dealing with apraxia.
I took Lynn’s webinar through CASANA, read the Speech-EZ parent manual, and I found Katie, our local SLP, who was open to trying the hand cues that Lynn often refers to as the “secret sauce” of her program.
Once I heard about the details of this program, I hit the ground running.
In addition to doing hand cues in therapy, Jake and I also did the Speech-EZ Apraxia Picture Sound Card (APSC) app at home every day.
What makes this program unique?
The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program uses multisensory strategies that incorporate visual, auditory, proprioceptive, gestural and tactile input in order to teach the child the correct movement sequences for speech. This multisensory approach addresses various levels of speech motor control. *
What’s in that “secret sauce?”
The Speech-EZ® Hand Cues are an important part of the program. The child learns specific hand gestures that represent various speech sounds. The idea of moving ones hands helps the individual recall, plan for, and execute the appropriate articulatory postures for speech productions. *
How does the app tie in with traditional speech therapy?
In order to improve the development and networking of the neuro-pathways responsible for motor speech planning, therapy is recommended on a daily basis. While daily in-clinic therapy sessions are the recommended protocol for duration and frequency when implementing The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program, this may not to be realistic for some families. The Speech-EZ® Apraxia Program is designed to incorporate home-based intervention strategies as much as possible in the event that families are not be able to drive to therapy every day. *
What’s included in the app?
This app includes over 775 colorful and engaging picture cards, 45 phonogram cards & 10 number cards, and the Speech-EZ® Hand Cues in video format. *
In Conclusion
The Speech-EZ Apraxia Sound Card app was a vital component in my apraxia tool belt. Once Jake mastered the app, I was able to elicit Lynn’s feedback techniques throughout the day to help him self-correct his speech mistakes. Being educated in this skill was huge for continued progress!
Jake began actively using this program in November of 2012. In May of 2013 we did a four-day intensive at Lynn’s home base – Foundations Developmental House. Here I learned other ways to boost his speech, pre-literacy, and memory skills.
Jake is in kindergarten now and is no longer in speech therapy, but I continue to use the hand cues to correct his reading errors. For example, sometimes he mixes up the /b/ and /d/ sounds. So, if the target word was “bad” and he said it incorrectly as “dad,” I would either ask him to say the word with his hands or I’d give him the hand gesture for /b/. When he sees/does the gesture, he can recall the sound, thus getting the word right.
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For more information/demo on the Speech-EZ Apraxia Picture Sound Card app, please click here.
To see it in use with a client, click here.
* Verbiage from Speech-EZ Apraxia Program website.
Disclaimer: I purchased the Speech-EZ APSC app for my son. Speech-EZ provided me with three APSC apps to offer as a giveaway on this blog. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose and I did not receive compensation for my review. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.
Jake's Journey with Apraxia 
We would love these to help fight apraxia in our house!
What a great resource for apraxia- I’ll be sharing this with almost my entire caseload! Michele Morris Speech Therapy Associates
Thank you Michele! I’m glad you found some helpful information.
My little guy has been in speech therapy for almost a year now since he as 18 months. I get what you mean when you say progress is SLOW. We have gotten to the point where he will finally try to imitate a sound with some incentive which is huge. I pray for that one day where we i can finally see the light at the end of this tunnel like you did when Jake was 4. Our therapist uses some visual cues although not consistently. It’s cute to see my little guy pulling his arms apart and squinting his eyes while he tries so hard to say “ee”. Though he has trouble with the sound, he has no trouble with remembering the visual cue. I would love to incorpoate the speech EZ hand cues into our therapy. Thank you for your blog. I look forward to each post and read it with renewed hope. Warmest regards, Amy
Amy, Thanks for sharing your story. Keep the faith. The first years of apraxia are the most difficult. Best of luck to you.
Want to meet someone who works hard to accomplish goals? Meet a child with apraxia.
My 2 year old was diagnosed with apraxia today. We have been in speech therapy for 6 months with very little to no progress. So I am sitting on my couch crying trying to figure out how to help him! Your blog looks awesome Thank you. And glad to hear that progress is slow is the norm so my expecations wont be for quick moving. I followed you on facebook too
Tania, Thank you for sharing your story. Apraxia is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. The uncertainty, worry, and coping in the beginning is no fun though. Did you see the “Apraxia Newbies” tab at the top of the page? It may be of some help to you. Best of luck to you.
would be a super help in overcoming apraxia in my 5 year old! Thanks for this offer.
My child has very few verbal words (apraxia) but he is making more and more sounds and he is now starting to put two sounds together to form a few new words, which is thrilling–as verbal speech has been a very very slow process, although it is one that we will never give up on. Thank you for the opportunity to have a chance to win this wonderful app giveaway. I’m so happy that your son, Jake, is thriving and is doing so well with his words and speech. Thank you very much for your blog and for all of the hard work that you do.
Sandie – Thanks for sharing your child’s status with apraxia. How exciting that the words are starting to come! Also, thank you for the sweet words about Jake and the encouragement. I appreciate the support!
My kiddo is 4 year and half. I had really hoped by this stage we’d have more understandable language but that’s just not the case.. We are still in the SLOW stage mainly because both his speech therapist agree he is the worst case of Apraxia they’ve ever seen.. 😦 Any tools are helpful tools and we’d love to win. We currently have the hand cues app without speech because it was the cheapest one offered. He responds well to hand cues more than anything else so we started PROMPT 5 months ago. We truly are in need of anything and everything that might help him. Thank you for sharing your story.
Kelly, I’m glad your son responds well to hand cues. Maybe with repetition, the words and sound will start to stick. It’s good you’re doing PROMPT too. I’ve heard wonderful things about it. Best of luck to you and your healing journey with apraxia.
Following you on Facebook now and I shared the giveaway. :)I read your story a few days ago but I can’t remember where I seen it.
We’ve been receiving speech therapy through Early On since fall, but my 34-month-old son was just diagnosed officially with apraxia on December 23rd. Thank you for your blog and all the info you have shared! I followed you on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. I would love to be able to try this app with my son as we are now on a waiting list to get private speech therapy and I feel like we are wasting precious time.
Laurie, Ugh! Waiting list. That stinks. Many aspects of therapy can be so very frustrating, especially at that age. I’ve compared apraxia before to being lost in a corn maze. I felt like our therapy was a waste from 27 months through 38 months though and used to beat myself up about it. But, I didn’t give up and eventually we found the right therapist/approach that worked. Thanks for all of your follows! I’m a social media newbie, so I appreciate it.
Would loves this app for my daughter, she has made great progress in her fight with apraxia, but still has a lot of work ahead of her,
My three year old was recently diagnosed with apraxia!
We would love this app to help him out.
Thank you 🙂
Apraxia (and getting the diagnosis) is tough going for everyone involved
My 11 year old is STILL in speech therapy and will be a long time. “They” say he may never be intelligible, but we WILL prove them wrong!
Did your son start getting treatment for apraxia at 3? We are currently looking at the same type of prognosis. Even though he is only 4 its highly likely that the aac device will be his main form of communication.
Kelly, My son began speech therapy at 27 months 1x a week. It was play therapy though and the words the SLPs worked with him on had no rhyme or reason to them. He made zero progress. At 38 months he started Kaufman cards, therapy 2x/wk. Exactly one year later (4.2) he began Speech-EZ, therapy 2x/wk. We never used AAC, but I’d love to get some AAC stories on the blog. Is your child using AAC now?
Yes he uses touch chat on the ipad.He has had it since he was 2.
This would be wonderful to win! I’m opening a private SLP practice soon and hope to work with kids with apraxia. This would be a wonderful addition! (I also follow you on Twitter, and Pinterest. And I shared this post and giveaway with my facebook friends!)
Amy, Thanks for all the shares and how exciting you’re opening a private practice! There is a huge need for warrior SLPs in our apraxia community!
My daughter was recently diagnosed with apraxia. She is almost 3 and has been in specs therapy just over a year. She responds great most days to the therapy. I am just learning of this blog and I am hopeful for my child now thank you so much
Cassandra, Thanks for stopping by and welcome! The “Apraxia Newbies” tab at the top will show you around.
Thank you
So glad to have found your blog! My youngest was diagnosed with Apraxia last year and his SLP recently told me about this app, would love to win it!
Nicolle – Thanks for all the follows! 🙂 I’m a social media newbie, so I appreciate it. That’s awesome your SLP told you about this app. I’m glad the word is getting out. Best of luck to you.
I also followed you on FB!
Also followed you on Pinterest!
Our son, Rylan, will be 3 years old on the 24th of this month. After 13 months of speech therapy for Apraxia 3 times per week, we have only added “Me” and “bee” and a few sounds to his already limited vocabulary of “Mama,” “No” and “ba.” As much as you just want your child’s vocabulary to explode, you soon realize that with Apraxia, the seemingly “small” steps are actually HUGE steps for them! We may never fully understand the frustration he struggles with every day, but have learned to be completely inspired by his hard work, tenacity, and the beautiful smile he faces every challenge with! Love him so much!
I follow you and have shared your post! Thank you for the opportunity!!
Jenn – Yes, apraxia will teach you the fine art of gratitude, perseverance, and patience. For me, each and every sound and word created deep joy! Jake was a little over 3 when he said Mama for the first time and 4.3 when he said I love you. Those are moments I will always cherish and never forget. When you have to wait longer for the things everyone else takes for granted, you appreciate them immensely!
I am an SLP working in the public schools. I could help many of my students with your app. With budgets getting tighter and tighter, winning it would be awesome! I shared your giveaway on facebook and I plan on following you.
Speech-EZ in public school would be awesome! We did public therapy for a bit and our therapist had a $200 budget for the whole year. And, it was the first decent amount of $ she’d been granted in a few years. She was so awesome b/c she spent all of it on Kaufman cards for my Jake! Priceless generosity.
My daughter has apraxia and we have been in speech therapy for over 4 years now. I see progression, its slow going though. I would love to try this speech app with her! We are always looking for new ways to practice her speech 🙂
My son’s school therapist said his artic errors were habit. Gee did she not learn about apraxia in school and consider that’s why he can’t make certain sounds?
I followed on FB. Good blog on apraxia.
Thanks for the follow and for your encouragement. It is sometimes hard to find the right SLP fit for your child, but don’t give up. And I learned to speak my mind if I didn’t agree with something. It was difficult b/c I am timid by nature, but we are our children’s #1 advocate. Best of luck to you.
I am an SLP and I have multiple clients with Apraxia on my caseload. I would love to use this app with my patients. I follow you on Facebook.
Cristine, Thanks for the follow and for supporting the apraxia community!
My little guy was diagnosed with apraxia and is such a strong willed, determined kid. This app would be great for him! Thanks for the opportunity!
Our 5-year-old has CAS…this app would be a huge asset to his program. I follow your blog and liked your Facebook page:)
i have worked with children who have CAS for about 27 years. As a university professor, I now teach future SLPs and conduct research in this area. I am intrigued by this program and would love to be the winner of one of the app giveaways. This would be a great program to demonstrate for students and to potentially conduct some research to support the success of the program. Thank you!
Carol, Thank you for your support in the apraxia community! It is so nice to hear that people are championing this cause and working hard to help our children find their voice.
I went to high school with Lynn, and I am truly inspired by her story and her successes. As a SLP and a mother to three children all with their own unique set of needs, I can relate fully to her experience. I am currently working in a preschool for children with developmental delays and I have several children with CAS. I would love to utilize this app to make a difference in their lives.
Have a student that is just like this. Just turned 4 and is regressing all of a sudden!
Hi I follow you on facebook! My daughter Isabella was diagnosed with apraxia a year ago and we have been doing everything in our power to expand her vocabulary. Watching her struggle to communicate has been the hardest thing I had to do ( even harder than battling with my lupus). To be able to get this app free of cost would be a huge blessing for our family and a great belated birthday present for my little girl. She just turned 4 and is unintelligible to strangers. I know everyone that commented equally wants to win but my fingers are crossed that our name will be chosen!
my 3 year old son is severely apraxic we would love to have him work with this 🙂
My 3 year old has apraxia, we use many apps and this would help her and myself extending the learning! Thank you!
Following you on facebook, and also subscribed to your blog. Thanks!
My daughter uses the cards at school n has come along way using cues with her apraxia I make the slp print me out the cards she’s on to work on them at home having the app would make it easier to use.
my son is 2 1/2 and we are just starting to get a few sounds that give us hope! We would love this app to work with!
My son is 6 and his name is KAMYL..he was diagnosed w APRAXIA around age 3…I am praying to God he gets a chance to win this contest BC I think speech ez is a great program for children with APRAXIA and I know my son would benefit greatly from it…he is the love of my life and I wish I could afford to him this app but unfortunately I am a single Mother with two lil boys and going,thru many financial troubles right now n I would do anything to be able to give my child the tools he needs to focus on his apraxia. …thanku xo
I would love to try this with the kids that I work with. Thanks!
Would love to try with my son who is 6 and has apraxia.
The most frustrating thing about Apraxia….trying to get your friends and family to truely understand what it is!!
I would LOVE to have this Speech EZ Apraxia program for my 5 year old daughter. She has been working so hard since she was 2 and a half and non-verbal. She has made strides but is still unintelligible to people who don’t know her. Anything to help her make more progress would be such a gift. I have been following you on Twitter for a few months and always look forward to reading your posts. Thank you for sharing Jake’s Journey and for helping us feel not so alone.
These cards would be awesome for two reasons: I’m a mother to a child with apraxia, but I’m also an SLP specializing in CAS. I also shared Part II of your interview with Lynn on my fb page slpmommyofapraxia.
I would like to try these with my 4 year old with apraxia
My son is 6 months post cochlear implant and could really benefit from this giveaway!!
I think my 3 year old with Apraxia would love working with these. Good luck to all and I wish the best for all families affected with Apraxia.