I've been wondering why this one - (not an official diagnosis cos we aren't getting the formal assessment done) - which our fantastic ST says she thinks we are dealing with dyspraxia (verbal I'm assuming) has thrown me. I think it is because with DS and speech delay like other areas that kids with DS experience delay in - can be explained in terms of 'she will get there - just more slowly' ie the development is similar to that of typical development - just slower - so it is familiar and she will get there inher own tme and in her own way. Not so this diagnosis - and that is what has thrown me - it requires specific and intensive language/speech therapy of a particular style. We have already been doing a lot of it - but it is the 'official' and 'routine' and 'systematic' things that scare me. I don't want to let my precious girl down. I know it isn't autism but it feels like a need for something like ABA - and while I will do anything I possibly can to help Hannah - routine and systematic don't come easy to me. It's a challenge. I know she'll get there, in her own time and at her own pace but I wish she didn't have this additional difficulty to something as vital as speech.
