Many American children suffer from a range of speech disorders, such as stuttering, dysarthria, and apraxia. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, by the first grade, around 5% of children exhibit speech disorders. They can stem from multiple causes, like hearing disorders, developmental disabilities, or voice problems. Fortunately, speech …
apraxia
Silence for Speech 2021
It is officially fall and it’s officially time to mark your calendars for this year’s Silence for Speech event! After a successful 2020 fundraiser, we are excited and hopeful for another successful event. Founder and Executive Director, Pam Pulizzi, recalls, “We learned last year that most of the participants in Silence for Speech know someone with autism, apraxia, or other speech …
Our Journey With Apraxia: This Is What I Have Learned
Many of our grant recipients are challenged by Childhood Apraxia of Speech. We're sharing a great article written by a mom who knows firsthand what parenting a child with apraxia is all about. People often ask me to describe what I’ve learned as the parent of a child with apraxia. It isn’t always easy to put into words. In fact, lately I have been struggling on this journey — and it is a …
Being Grateful For the Little Things
We at the Orange Effect Foundation find it easy to be grateful. We have over 100 reasons to be thankful. In 2018, we have funded speech therapy for over 100 children across the United States. We are making a difference. We are grateful to all our sponsors who help make this happen. To show how far the gratitude goes, here is what some of our Orange Effect grant recipient families are thankful …
To the Family Just Starting Out With An Apraxia Diagnosis
To the family just starting out with an apraxia diagnosis … breathe. I know it’s hard because I’ve been there. Try not to let your thoughts and fears consume you; remember your child is still your child despite the diagnosis. Many people are unaware of apraxia, which is a neurological motor planning disorder. A child with apraxia knows exactly what he wants to say, but the breakdown between the …
Speech Pathologist Knows Firsthand About Difficulties
BY HEATHER DEROSA As Jessica Clark was learning to talk, her brain would send a message to her mouth to speak, but all that would come out were grunts. When her parents took her to speech therapy and began treatment for speech apraxia, they were told their daughter would always be an introvert and never able to do much. Clark didn’t begin talking until the age of 2, according to …
Extending Grace
Dear Mamas At Chick-fil-A, To the one I judged. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not biting my tongue and taking a moment to see past your son’s behavior. I’m sorry I raised my voice when he pushed my son around. As soon as we left that day I knew I was wrong. I asked for forgiveness and prayed for you. Mamas face a lot of messes. If I were to see you face-to-face, I’d admit I was …
Understanding Apraxia of Speech
The Orange Effect Foundation recently funded sign language education for a child diagnosed with Developmental Apraxia of Speech. Apraxia is a speech disorder in which a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. It is not due to weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles. Severity of apraxia of speech can range from mild to severe. Watch "Independence," a …