dysarthria Question

[MMarie]

My daughter is turning 4. Her speech therapist suggested I talk to my family Dr about the possible diagnois of dysarthia. My Dr said " what I am suppose to do? I am just a GP. So my questions are??.
Is it the SLP job to diagnois? Once a diagnois is done..what then?
MRI was done, found normal.
Does that cancel out the diagnois of dysarthria?
I am feeling frustrated with the resources, financial burden and the lack of
concern for the GP. The attitude he gave was search the net...so here I am! Any feedback would be great.
My daughter current therapy is
3 months govement paid therapy
3 months private therapy
2 school days a week at a private speech school.

[Cindy]

Hi Marie,

This is the place to be! It's good that you out on the net searching for answers. While on this journey you’ll find you will be your child’s best advocate. Knowledge will empower you to help your child thrive in the most amazing ways.

Below are resources that will give some insight to your questions.
In addition, there's another online support group. This is also a great source of support for parents/professionals whose children are impacted with speech and related disorders. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/childrensapraxianet/

Hope you'll find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

Cindy


Who diagnoses communication disorders in children and how is it determined that a child has a disorder?
http://www.speechville.com/speech-therapy/who-diagnoses.html

"Speech-language pathologists (speech therapists) diagnose and treat or remediate communication disorders in children. In the United States, they are licensed by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. In Canada, they are licensed by the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Links to Audiology and Speech-Pathology Associations worldwide.

Developmental pediatricians and pediatric neurologists will also sometimes diagnose a speech or language disorder and refer you to a speech therapist for treatment.
The assessment is made by using a combination of parent input, looking at the child's physical oral motor structures, and engaging the child in communication.

Recommendations of frequency of speech therapy are made based upon the severity of the speech disorder and typically range from speech therapy once a week for a half hour to speech therapy four or five times per week for an hour per session."

For more information, see:

Speech-Language Assessments
http://www.speechville.com/speech-therapy/links-assessment.html
Speech Therapy Matrix
(recommendations of frequency of speech therapy)
http://www.speech-express.com/advocacy-depot/speech-therapy-matrix.html
Finding a speech-language pathologist or other professional
http://www.speechville.com/speech-therapy/finding-speech-therapists.html
Speech Disorder Diagnosis Destination
(information about specific communication disorders in children)
http://www.speechville.com/diagnosis-destinations.html


Speechville resources on dystharia:

What is dysarthria?

"Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder, associated with the production of speech. Dysarthria is due to a weakness or incoordination of the speech muscles. Speech is slow, weak, imprecise or uncoordinated. It can affect both children and adults.

"There is often difficulty with getting enough air support during speech, voice problems, slurred speech sounds and too much nasality (air coming through the nose).

Dysarthria can vary greatly in severity. For some children, it is very mild and has little effect on the understandability of speech. Some children may be difficult to understand and will need therapy to improve their speech.

...children with dysarthria often have difficulties with language, learning and other aspects of motor development...

From the Mayo Clinic (Rochester), Child and Adolescent Care."


ASHA
Description of Dysarthria and Outline Therapies
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/dysarthria.htm

Dysarthria Symptoms, Treatment, Tips for the Person With Dysarthria, Tips for the Listener
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/dysarthria.htm

Mayo Clinic Treatment of Dysarthria in Children
http://www.mayoclinic.org/pediatrics-rst/dysarthria.html

Leslie Styba's site
Dysathria
http://home.ica.net/~fred/anch10-1.htm

Progressive Dystharia
http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowPDF&ProduktNr=224226&Ausgabe=225522&ArtikelNr=17125&filename=17125.pdf

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in the U.K.
Clinical Leaflet: Dysarthria
http://www.rcslt.org/leaflet-dysarthria.shtml

Experts and their websites on Dystharia and other Oral-Motor difficulties.

Pam Marshalla: Oral-Motor Library
http://www.pammarshalla.com/
Deb Hayden: PROMPT Institute
http://www.promptinstitute.com/
Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson: ITI
http://shop.azstarnet.com/cgi-bin/iti.storefront
Debra Beckman: Oral Motor Therapy
http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com/
Suzanne Evans-Morris: New Visions
http://www.new-vis.com/

[BeckG]

Wow Cindy! Thanks for all the excellent resources. I have a friend who was looking for info on Dysarthria, so this will be very helpful!

Rebecca

[BeckG]

Marie, I know this is an old post, but can you give us an update on your daughter?
_________________
I am learning all I can about dysarthria.