Deborah,

        See Trisha's post she had some good ideas. The best you can do is
to provide Zachary with as much language stimulation as possible. Have the
whole family talk to him, read to him, and get him an augmented
communication board as soon as feasible.

Bobby

>his oral motor function and expressive speech and the knowing of how to
>communicate is more than a year behind, probably about fourteen months
>behind.  His muscles in his jaw are down to 50% on both sides, and his cheek
>muscles are down to 40% on both sides.
>Does this help ?
>Deborah mom of 4
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bobby Greer <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 11:32 AM
>Subject: Re: Questions went to Neuro
>
>
>>>But Bobby, that is what he is missing.  His gross and fine motor skills
>are
>>>lagging, but are only behind about maybe six months.  It is his speech
>>>skills, oral motor functions, and use and understanding of language is
>what
>>>is significantly delayed.
>>How significantly delayed compared to his groos and fine motor skills?
>>
>>Bobby
>>
>>
>>>And his neuro said "If I put him up her on the table and checked his
>>>reflexs, I can tell you right now that they are still very ridged,"
>>>Deborah mom of 4
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Bobby Greer <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Date: Monday, February 28, 2000 8:00 PM
>>>Subject: Re: Questions went to Neuro
>>>
>>>
>>>>Debra
>>>>
>>>>        As far as a sppecific type od CP dx, it might be difficult with a
>>>>child Zachary's age. Most persons with CP actually have mixed types.
>There
>>>>is rarely a "pure" athetoid, or "pure" spastic. A good neuro will
>asceratin
>>>>the types by the pathological reflexes which are stil function. Most
>phase
>>>>out between 6 and 12 months of age. Some people believe you can "type" CP
>>>>by outward appearance, but, to me, that's quite naive.
>>>>
>>>>        As for intellectual development, "chill" for a while. What really
>>>>counts is language development. Again, most people think intellectual and
>>>>language development go hand in hand, but not always. Good language and
>>>>communication skills are "everything" as far as goals.
>>>>
>>>>Bobby
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Sorry for cross posting.
>>>>>
>>>>>Zachary went to the neuro today for his recheck.  He said he seems to be
>>>>>doing fine, "Has all the basic skills down, anyway, the walking,
>fussing,
>>>>>throwing."
>>>>>Then I began the questions.
>>>>>First I asked him can there be any classification that we could put
>>>>>Zachary under ?  He said not really since they do not know what caused
>>>>>Zachary's conditions.  I told him the reason was because the OT told me
>>>>>last week, "If we have documentation of CP things would be different"
>He
>>>>>said " I can give him a dx of CP easy, all CP is ,is an umbrella term
>for
>>>>>children who have a muscle coordination, and muscle tone problem caused
>by
>>>>>a brain injury or abnormality that is not progressive, and that Zachary
>>>>>is."  Should I call him and tell him to go ahead and give the "official"
>>>>>dx of CP or not ?
>>>>>He also could not tell me weather or not Zachary is going to be MR or
>not,
>>>>>still too early to tell, but he said the toe walking and the severe
>delay
>>>>>in speech and oral motor skills is a sure sign of learning disability.
>>>>>So there goes our six month visit.
>>>>>Deborah mom of 4
>>>>
>>>
>>>__________________________________________
>>>NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
>>>Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at
>>>http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
>>
>
>__________________________________________
>NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
>Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at
>http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html