When we got wind of Ivan's challenges, I became frantically, looking for answers. Or rather, would I honestly, admit that I was looking for a cure. I just could not wrap my head around the idea that he had something we could not fix. The normalcy as we knew it in our lives, had been wrecked forever.
I tried to establish a routine for Ivan, and soon it became a night ritual for me. Peter had started to take overseas job projects, leaving me and the two boys alone. So, I would settle the boys both in the same room. First we would have Oreos and Milk, then we would go to bed, followed by soft instrumental music playing in the background. I say a night time prayer and tuck the boys in. El had always been rather independent and didn't like the mushy good nights. But Ivan would want me to sit by his side. I would sit in and watch him drift off to sleep. Once they were down for the night, my routine continues, as I broke down in tears and poured out my pain and anger. After a good cry, I would take a deep breathe and go over to my room and start reading and researching. The routine grew on me, and I would say that I found it healthy to let it out on a regular basis. One night, I stumbled on this article on Apraxia. I saw many symptoms that I related with, I figured that Ivan had this condition.
I came to know that autism was a landlord that had many other co-occupants too. And one of them in Ivan's case was Apraxia. Here are some info, that could help you know what it is.
"Apraxia - a neurological disorder that occurs when a child is unable to execute speech movements- the specific sequence of movements that results in proper speech- because of problems with coordination and motor planning. Apraxia does not involve muscle weakness. The child's brain is unable to plan and order motor activities so that the mouth can form the correct shapes to form words. The apraxic child knows what he wants to say, but his mouth isn't getting the correct messages to be physically able to say the desired words or sentences."
Within apraxia itself, there are two kinds, oral apraxia and verbal apraxia.
"Oral apraxia affects the child's ability to move his or her mouth muscles for intent other than speech, e.g., coughing or blowing out birthday candles."
"Verbal apraxia is identified when the child's ability to sequence speech sounds is impaired, again, not resulting from muscle weakness."
Book: Alphabet Kids: From ADD to Zellweger Syndrome by Robbie Woliver
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