Communication Is A Two-Way Street
I dream of a day that other's take the time to understand Apraxia. While kids diagnosed fight to be understood by others. They take their time, energy, and effort into being understood-other's get the luxury of dismissing this opportunity to understand Apraxia and someone different than themselves. They don't need to take time out of their day to understand Apraxia nor to understand the person talking.
They have the luxury of ignorance.
Rather than asking, "Why" or asking, "What is this speech disorder?"
These 'others' have the luxury of simply stating, "They speak like a baby" and calling it a day. Or even labeling children as "dumb" and moving on.
I thought as a kid, that I had to fight to find my words so everyone can understand me.
To an extent I did; through speech therapy and practice, I, like most Apraxia children, work to be understood. That's what we are taught: practice your pronunciation so others can understand what you're saying.
What they don't tell you is just because you're understood, doesn't mean they'll listen.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight and some adult wisdom, I have quickly realized that it's impossible to be understood by those that don't care enough to listen.
You as parents have encountered this. You speak coherently to your child's teachers about Apraxia and the fact that your child can understand and perform all the academic tasks, but they simply have difficulties communicating.
The lackadaisical teacher nods their head acknowledging you, but never fully understanding you nor caring enough to do so.
Seems to me that on the Apraxia Journey those teachers and individuals we meet that make the journey tolerable are those individuals that take the time to truly UNDERSTAND.
They have the luxury of ignorance.
Rather than asking, "Why" or asking, "What is this speech disorder?"
These 'others' have the luxury of simply stating, "They speak like a baby" and calling it a day. Or even labeling children as "dumb" and moving on.
I thought as a kid, that I had to fight to find my words so everyone can understand me.
To an extent I did; through speech therapy and practice, I, like most Apraxia children, work to be understood. That's what we are taught: practice your pronunciation so others can understand what you're saying.
What they don't tell you is just because you're understood, doesn't mean they'll listen.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight and some adult wisdom, I have quickly realized that it's impossible to be understood by those that don't care enough to listen.
You as parents have encountered this. You speak coherently to your child's teachers about Apraxia and the fact that your child can understand and perform all the academic tasks, but they simply have difficulties communicating.
The lackadaisical teacher nods their head acknowledging you, but never fully understanding you nor caring enough to do so.
Seems to me that on the Apraxia Journey those teachers and individuals we meet that make the journey tolerable are those individuals that take the time to truly UNDERSTAND.