UPDATE
12-26-2003:
As of today,
Luke has 8 words and many consonant sounds! He is even attempting CV
and a couple of CC blends! Adjusting to the therapy and therapists has
taken some time, but speech therapy (2.5 hours a week), occupational
therapy (1 hour a week + sensory diet daily), and physical therapy
(daily + monthly evaluations) are all going well.
We began Luke
on a gluten-free casein-free diet in September. At that time we also
added an essential fatty acid supplement to his diet. I cannot explain
the progress he has made! In addition to the new words and sounds he
has, his sensory issues are all but gone as well! Some of the
autistic-like traits he exhibited occasionally (like "zoning out" and
spinning) are gone too!
Whether this progress is from the dietary changes we have made or the
EFA supplement I cannot say. I do know that we saw almost zero progress
in his speech until we added the EFA and took out wheat and dairy from
his diet. Another plus is that he hasn't had an ear or sinus infection
since July! At that time he was having them so frequently that our
pediatrician was asking us to consider having tubes inserted in his
ears. In fact, none of the kids nor Shawn & I have had so much as a
sniffle since summer. In support of Luke we all take an EFA and have
gone almost totally GFCF as a family. Many of our aches and pains have
dissolved and our mental clarity seems to be better.
I don't want to say all of this proposing it as a cure-all. I know
without the prayers of many who love and care about Luke he wouldn't
have any progress. I give the glory to God alone. I believe also that
through Him we were given wisdom to try these dietary changes and that
they are absolutely working. Research this for yourself - I hope you
find some useful information through the links below.
EFA's@Speech-Express
More On Apraxia
Why GFCF?
Online
Apraxia Support
NoMilk.com
A
Year's Worth of GF Reading
GFCF-Diet.com
Essential Fatty Acid Research
My Favorite E-Group
