Why blog about verbal dyspraxia?
We all know the feeling, the word you’re trying to find is on the very tip of your tongue. For people living with verbal dyspraxia, it is a feeling they know only too well.
I decided to write this post because I didn’t know a lot, if anything, about verbal dyspraxia. So, I reached out to Mikey of Mikey’s Wish, who very kindly provided plenty of information about verbal dyspraxia. And that made me realise, I tick quite a few symptoms off the verbal dyspraxia symptoms checklist.
What is verbal dyspraxia and do I have it?
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First off, it is known by different names. In the UK, it is known as articulatory dyspraxia or developmental verbal dyspraxia. In the USA it is commonly known as apraxia of speech.
But to answer the question. What is verbal dyspraxia and do I have it? Verbal dyspraxia is a Neurological condition that prevents the forming of clear speech. And can often, but not always, overlap with types of global dyspraxia, making me think, maybe I do have it?
Verbal dyspraxia is a Neurological condition that prevents the forming of clear speech.
Does verbal dyspraxia affect food?
I have always had an issue with the texture of food. I still do, but my pallet for different texture is growing as I get older. But given that verbal dyspraxia affects the functioning of the month and tongue it must surely affect the way that the senses receive the texture and taste of food. I can’t help but reflect and think that the prison-like school dinners of the 1990’s did not help my relationship with the texture of food.
The dyspraxic chef ask’s Mikey’s Wish
I asked Mikey (Mikey’s Wish raises awareness about verbal dyspraxia) about his relationship with food and he said he had no sensory issues with food and would try anything once. With me, it has to smell right and look right before I dip my fork into anything.
During our conversation, Mikey raised some important points about verbal dyspraxia. He highlighted the importance that our society puts on people’s ability to speak correctly and that people living with verbal dyspraxia in some cases require extensive speech therapy. Verbal dyspraxia shares some overlapping symptoms with other kinds of dyspraxia. These include but are not exclusive to, planning, processing speed, word finding, sequencing and it can affect the ability to read and write. This fast paced world we live in doesn’t always consider people that might need a little more time to process what is around them.
What is verbal dyspraxia and do I have it? Yes, I think so.
Through my research for this post, I have realised that I have had and still have some verbal dyspraxic tendencies. They are not what they were, but it certainly puts things in perspective considering I studied performing arts and broadcast radio. But it made me feel better about the times I struggle with speech. But as with the cooking, my learning about dyspraxia goes on.
A big thank you to Mikey’s Wish for helping with this post. Keep up the good work.
Yours and Hungry,
The dyspraxic chef.
