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Post by Emilysmom on May 28, 2005 15:01:02 GMT -5
In response to the question about using a surgical procedure to help improve articulation, I have heard of many different things that have been done. When Emily was 3, I looked into several different things because I felt strongly that what she needed MOST was to be able to communicate with others. (She had already, at that point, shown us how very smart she was....and I wanted her to be able to express herself.) One of the procedures was one that reduced the size of the tongue. So much is said about how small the inside of the mouths of kids with Ds are, and having a smaller tongue was supposed to help them simply have the room to form words. Our ST had worked with kids who had undergone that procedure and said......#1 it was extremely painful, and #2 there was not a significant improvement in articulation. Another thing I've heard about is a procedure to correct the palate, which in many kids with Ds is very high and narrow, and also makes it harder to correctly form sounds. Again....it seemed like the risks didn't outweigh the benefits for Emily. We did spend countless hours doing oral motor exercises that were designed to strengthen the muscles of the inner cheeks, lips, etc. She also had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy at around 4 years old........and it was not because of sleep apnea or recurrent infections. We opted to do it because she drooled constantly and the ENT said it was because her tonsils were so large that they nearly met in the middle and it was too hard for her to swallow her saliva consistently. I really had hopes that it would also help with her speech, but honestly.....it seemed to almost make her voice a little bit MORE nasal sounding. We still see big improvements in her articulation as the years go by.
Susan
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Post by Kristen on May 29, 2005 19:32:49 GMT -5
Rickismom - I don't think anyone will eat you alive! Did you do it because you thought it was in her best interest? There's your answer! Just because someone might not agree does not mean that you are wrong and should be trashed. I am not for it so young, but if C asked for it as an adult (NOT an adolescent in the midst of normal self loathing and not in lieu of him accepting his true self), I would do it, so who would I be to judge? I would just wnat it to be for HIS reasons, not mine and at the age of 1, I would have been doing it for the wrong reasons (gaining the acceptance of others and hoping that if he didn't "look it too much" maybe no one will treat him like he has it - stupid, I know, but I was a little wacky for a while)!
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Post by Chester on May 31, 2005 6:03:38 GMT -5
I agree with Kristen. Each parent has to do what they feel in their heart to be in the best interest of their child. We each can't fully understand where another person lives, how they were raised, the community they live in which impact the decisions we make as parents.
I've learned a lot from this thread. I'm glad that there are options out there for people, but to tell you the truth I'm not much of a risk taker and wouldn't consider any of them.
The biggest thing I need to figure out now, is making sure that I'm not looking for a "miracle" in ALL of the THERAPIES that we are involved in. I wouldn't do surgeries because of the risk, but therapies are pretty low risk, and we a do a bunch of them!....but now I need to find the balance to make sure I'm letting our little guy and our family grow up instead of run here for therapy, run there for therapy...it's time for our family to start living life again. For a start I think we'll cancel PT for the summer, his big brother and sister will be home, we'll be outside playing a ton more, what better PT can a three year old get?
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Post by momofrussell on Jun 1, 2005 7:08:46 GMT -5
Rickismom.... I agree...no eating alive going to come from me! I am glad you were comfy enough to be honest with us on something like that! As parents we all have to do what is best for OUR children.. not what others feel as best. A.
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