Speechville Express - Complementary Therapies

Speechville Express Routes

alternative routes
augmentative communication

advocacy depot
giving you the tools to "get there"

accompanying conditions
associated issues and disabilities

complementary paths
alternative and complementary therapies

kids' caboose
just for kids - homework helpers, games, books and more

teen junction
about teen-agers' issues

link line
extensive links to further information

across the wire
speech, language, disability, and education news

teachers' track
helpful information for teachers

shop Speechville Express
language and learning products

Books for Young Children:
Working on and playing with speech and language

Shop Speechville Express

Books

Software

Augmentative Communication

Toys

Music

Electronic Toys

Diagnosis Destinations

aphasia

apraxia or dyspraxia

articulation disorders

dysarthria

late talking

pervasive developmental disorder

phonological disorder

semantic pragmatic language disorder

specific language impairment

stuttering

View augmentative communication devices at Amazon:

________________

Alternative Therapy

Article

Do EFA Supplements Help our Kids?

By Lindsay Chase Wheaton*

Please note, this is an anecdotal report only, and is not intended as medical or therapeutic advice. Please consult your doctor before administering supplements to your child.

As a parent, I am always searching for ways to help my son Quinn with his speech and language difficulties, and try to keep up to date with any new products or therapy ideas. Several months ago, I read about the benefits of supplementing with Essential Fatty Acids (EFA�s), and how it can improve our kids concentration, as well as their speech production. In addition, our group was invited to participate in a trial study of a product called Pro-EFA. Pro-EFA is made up of Omega 3 (EPA and DHA from fish oil) and Omega 6 (GLA from borage oil). This is a completely natural supplement made up of substances that are lacking in the child�s diet. I know for Quinn, it made sense for us to try it because the food items containing these natural ingredients are rarely consumed in our house, so his diet could very well be lacking in them. This particular supplement comes in a large capsule which is filled with the oils, and I must say, I was skeptical as to whether or not Quinn would take this willingly. At first, we poked a hole in the capsule with a pin, and squeezed the product onto a spoon and fed it to Quinn that way. Now, Quinn pops the pill in his mouth, and chews it like a gummy bear, squeezing the oil out and then disposes of the capsule.

Did it work for Quinn?

We have been supplementing Quinn since March 2001. Since that time, there has been a huge jump in his speech production, and overall behaviour. Quinn went from stringing a maximum of three words together, to full sentences, including his "little words" like "is" and "are". All of a sudden, Quinn, who always called himself "finn", was able to hit the "Qw" sound and was able to refer to himself as Quinn. In addition, Quinn�s concentration improved, and his rigidity dropped off, which made speech therapy that much more successful. Is it a miracle cure? I can�t say. Ever the skeptic, I would guess that the supplement improved his concentration, and therefore, enabled him to put more effort into his speech production.

Of interest, in June, we took a vacation to New Brunswick, and having run out of the EFA we were using, picked up a very similar product to bring with us. Quinn refused to take this new product for the 12 days we were away because it had a taste to it that was not appealing to him. About half way through our vacation, we noticed that Quinn was slightly more rigid (insisting things be done a certain way), less patient, cried more and was much more demanding. This of course could have been a product of the new environment we were in, but I couldn�t rule out the absence of the supplement either. We started him back on as soon as we got back into town, and he is now back to himself. I can�t say with absolute certainty whether it was the supplement that has contributed to Quinn�s breakthrough, but nor can I say that it wasn't. I will say that I feel that it has made a difference, and that�s enough for me.

An apraxia organization called CHERAB based in the United States recently sponsored a Symposium on EFA�s and their effectiveness for apraxic children. Read more about the Symposium and its findings at http://www.apraxia.cc. In addition, a good book to read up on EFA�s is The LCP Solution by B. Jacqueline Stordy, Ph.D. and Malcolm J. Nicholl. The book can be ordered through our site as an affiliate of Indigo, giving a percentage of the profit to ECHO at the following link, or picked up at most local book stores. http://www.apraxia.ca/bookswelike.html

*Lindsay is a co-founder and active member of Canada's Apraxia Support Group, ECHO - the Expressive Communication Help Organization.