Michele
I was curious how old your son or grandson is. I have a 5 year old son who has dyspraxia and severely delayed speech. He goes to a special needs pre-school and recieves speech and occupational therapy. He also has had several evaluations including an evaluation by a pshycologist and test a year above his age cognitively and below his age in speech. He is a very smart and extremely happy boy. He acts totaly typical of peers his age and does everything a 5 year old boy does except communicate like boys his age. He can say quite a bit but mainly our family understands what he says. People who don't know him or aren't around often struggle to understand what he says. He just got an Augmentive Communication device, similar to a lab top computer but uses touch screen to push buttons and it talks for him (in a childs voice) it realy has helped with school and situations where people don't understand him when I'm around. It also has helped him actually talk more with his mouth. Alot of people refer to our son as "smiley" and the "happiest kid" they have ever seen. He is extreemly loving, compassionate and patient there was a time around 2 and 3 years old he almost looked at everyone as if they had something wrong with their ears or something cause he knew in his mind what he was saying. I really feel the way we overcame that was constant work, patients and basicaly working with his problem not around it and treating him as if there wasn't a problem. (not ignoring it though) Just tons of praise and boosting confidence and challenging him! I wish you all the best and would like to know more of your situation, like how old your litttle one is and more! I have a strong interest in hearing from parents or any one of a child with dyspraxia and their stories to see what they have been through and what to expect us to go through. It is hard, hang in there! Michele My email address is ljedding@email.msn