AN INTEGRATED
APPROACH FOR
TREATING VERBAL APRAXIA
As with most disorders, the voice is the warning system for possible or pending issues emerging in the magnificent body. Speech pathologists are taught that speech is an overlaid system. The primary function of the body is to survive. When adding overlaid functions such as ice skating, rock climbing, singing, and speech, the muscles of the primary function need to be aligned and working correctly.
Short muscles, poor body alignment, and/or reduced core strength can disrupt functions of the primary system. These patterns can disrupt the overlaid functions such as speech and language skills and development. If short muscles, misalignment of the hips, head, and feet persist then; Apraxic kids fix to move. They can devise very creative compensations fixing (cheating as many of our parents call the positions) during their earliest of development. These fixing patterns are disrupting selected primary functions of the body (walking, sitting, jumping, eating).
Tandem is an integrated approach for treatment of verbal apraxia. Tandem address the primary functions that are disrupting the overlaid function of speech.
Apraxic children get stuck in their early development patterns which then persists causing disruption in the appropriate mechanical alignment which then disrupts any overlaid system such as speech. The reaction or compensation is that is in the body will begin to introduce possible "fixing" patterns that are disrupting the orderly emergence of speech and language skills in individuals with motor planning issues.
Blog
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO VERBAL APRAXIA
CONTACT
Meet the Team
Professionals at Tandem For Apraxia
Speech-Language Pathologist
Mary Mclaurine
Mary McLaurine is a Speech-Language Pathologist rapidly approaching 40 years of experience. She earned the Master of Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina (1979) and has the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Mary has always been interested in Apraxia, even when the field of Speech-Language Pathology refuted the diagnosis and said the disorder did not existMary’s daughter was born in 1991. Her Daughter demonstrated numerous atypical patterns at birth that Mary addressed and treated with principles of NDT.17 years ago, Mary met Lisa Sheff OTR/L at a meeting for a child. They started cotreating shortly after that meeting. Together, Mary and Lisa started to unravel the postural issues Impacting the orderly emerge of Speech and Language integrating NDT framework with traditional OT and PT strategies. Myofascil Release and Kinesio Taping were also added leading to excellent changes in the 0-3 population.Physical Therapists Amanda Drawbaugh DPT and Lindsey Haycraft DPT have also helped to unravel the Apraxia mystery. Lindsey recommended Patti Bobs which has assisted with proper alignment to support clarity of speech. Amanda has helped to identify additional compensatory patterns exhibited (holding with eyes to counterbalance reduced head and neck strength) and just provide a comprehensive overview of postural issues disrupting respiration skills supporting speech.
Occupational Therapist
Lisa Sheff
​Hi I’m Lisa Sheff. I’m an Occupational Therapist. I have been practicing OT for 27 years. I have been working with children and Early Intervention for 22 of those years. I have treated a variety of diagnosis through the years from mild delays to medically fragile child to children with apraxia. I received my degree from San Jose State University in California. While there, I was able to receive training from many certified instructors in a variety of treatment theories, such as Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental Techniques(NDT), and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation(PNF). I have continued to enhance my therapy and skills by learning Myofascial Release(MFR) and KinesioTaping as well as many others. I met Mary about 17 years ago and began out professional relationship and friendship. Utilizing the knowledge of body movement, skill development and overall strengthening, we began to realize that as we solidified and enhanced our children’s base of skills, we were making big improvements in the quality of and ability to motor plan skills. When we met Amanda, our interdisciplinary approach to therapy for our children was further enhanced.
Physical Therapist
Amanda Drawbaugh
My name is Amanda Drawbaugh. I am a physical therapist with over 11 years of experience. I received my bachelors from the University of Kentucky in Kinesiology and my physical therapy degree from Bellarmine University in 2009. I have experience working in outpatient, long-term care, acute care and pediatrics with special training in myofascial techniques and infant massage. I started working with Mary and Lisa 5 years ago looking at the puzzle pieces of children with apraxia. I would evaluate children for developmental delays, muscle weakness, and decreased movement when I found many of the same compensations patterns among children that were being treated for apraxia.--Amanda Drawbaugh PT, DPT, CIMI
