Something that is not quite often talked about within the apraxia community is that people with apraxia can experience mental exhaustion.
Mental exhaustion can sometimes be described as a person’s brain on low fuel like somebody has squeezed the energy out of it. I have experienced mental exhaustion because my speech can require a lot much focus, energy, and concentration to articulate words correctly. Also, after trying to get a word out, after so many attempts, you can feel frustrated, tired, or even angry. These are very normal reactions when you can’t say what you want to say. While these reactions are very valid, in my experience, they have led to increased mental exhaustion. I will be talking from my own personal experience with what has helped me not get mentally exhausted and burnt out from trying to articulate words.
1. Taking time with my speech.
Taking time with my speech and not forcing out words has helped me not get mentally exhausted as fast. If I keep on trying to get a word out and I keep not being able to pronounce it, this can lead to feelings of anxiousness and nervousness. Instead, if I take my time, I am less likely to get frustrated and build up tension that contributes to feeling mentally exhausted.
2. Taking breaks when appropriate.
When we are talking about apraxia, we know that apraxia treatment is famous for its repetitive intensive, frequent speech therapy; however, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take breaks. When I say the word breaks, I am not talking about taking a week off of speech therapy. I’m talking about in sessions taking two through three-minute breaks and working on relaxation exercises or something the child enjoys.
3. Deep breathing exercises.
Deep breathing can help with mental exhaustion. Breathing helps get air to your lungs and brain, which can help make you feel mentally exhausted. Generally speaking, when people even get anxious, they forget to breathe. Breathing is just a very beneficial thing to do.
4. Yes, taking naps can help too.
If a person is very mentally exhausted and other strategies are not working for them, it may be best if they take a short nap. The map doesn’t have to be super long, maybe like 30 minutes. However, naps will just help recharge your brain. Many parents who have kids with apraxia report their children taking naps after a speech therapy session.
5. Snacks!
With all of the above examples being said, it’s also essential to make sure you’re eating enough food. Your food gives your brain energy. I sometimes have a snack to not make me feel as mentally exhausted.
Final note:
These are just a few examples of what has helped me in my personal experience with mental exhaustion due to my speech disorder. I encourage you to do your own research and see what works best for you or your child. It’s vital that we look at the whole picture, and that means different factors that might affect your child that we may not be able to see.