CRESTVIEW — Childhood apraxia of speech is so little known that Jennifer Boswell hands cards to people who look askance at her daughter. They state, “My child has apraxia speech disorder. Please be patient.”

Summer, 3, has a neurological motor speech disorder that affects a child’s ability to form words. She knows what she wants to say, but her brain has difficulty coordinating necessary muscle movements.

“For reasons not yet fully understood, children with apraxia of speech have great difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined and specific series of movements of the tongue, lips, jaw and palate that are necessary for intelligible speech,” the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America, or CASANA's, website states. 

When Summer is frustrated because she can’t communicate with someone, “she has meltdowns,” Jennifer Boswell said. “She’s very vocal.  She’s not very intelligible, but she’s loud.” That can lead to misunderstandings. “… I got kicked out of my own doctor’s office in Niceville because my kid was too loud," Jennifer said. "There’s not much awareness around here."

The Crestview mom said she realized something was amiss with Summer last year. “She seemed like a happy kid but it’s hard to explain,” Jennifer said. “After she was around 2, I started noticing she didn’t seem to speak as well as her peers. She was only saying one or two words at a time. She was not progressing.”

A web search for “speech delays in toddlers” led Jennifer to videos on YouTube.com. “I went on YouTube and was blown away about how much the children were like her; the way they sounded and the way their lips moved,” she said.

Summer now receives intensive speech therapy twice a week through the Florida Department of Health's Early Steps program. The state-funded initiative helps families with children up to 3 years old with developmental delays.

“Her speech therapy consists of exercises for the mouth; trying to relay brain signals to the mouth to correctly enunciate words properly,” her dad, Joshua Boswell, said.

Summer's not the only one progressing; so is her mom.

“I’m learning, too,” Jennifer said. “And I’m a volunteer with CASANA now.” She is planning the2015 Emerald Coast Walk for Children with Apraxia of Speech. Proceeds from event — set for Oct. 10 at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin — will benefit the non-profit organization.

Jennifer said she hopes the event will raise awareness in Northwest Florida, and perhaps people — like her Niceville doctor's office — will be more understanding when Summer has a tantrum.

After all, "This is something that is going to be ongoing for a long time,” Joshua said. “Apraxia is something that affects you the rest of your life."

Jennifer understands a long journey lies ahead, but she believes there is hope for children with apraxia when the disorder is identified early.

“They just need therapy,” she said. "That is good news for Summer, because I was so worried when I heard (about) it.”

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WANT TO GO?

WHAT: 2015 Emerald Coast Walk for Children with Apraxia of Speech

WHEN: Registration begins 8:30 a.m.; walk begins 9 a.m., Oct. 10

WHERE: Henderson Beach State Park, 17000 Emerald Coast Parkway,Destin

CONTACT: Learn more at http://bit.ly/1M6xsNU, email emeraldcoastlife@gmail.com or call 398-6758 to register, volunteer, sponsor or provide entertainment for the event.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Girl's rare speech disorder drives Crestview mom to raise awareness

CRESTVIEW — Sacred Heart Medical Group Crestview Pediatrics is officially open for business, accepting new patients and same-day appointments at its 332 Medcrest Drive office.

Pediatricians hosted a ribbon-cutting and open-house reception on Thursday.

Crestview Pediatrics, which includes Dr. Joseph Peter and advanced nurse practitioner Lindsey Mann-Badyrka, recently joined Sacred Heart Medical Group’s regional network of physicians.

Two new pediatricians —  Dr. Jennifer Heegard and Dr. Lisa Currier —  have also joined the practice.

Peter has more than 25 years of pediatrics experience, spanning nearly three continents. He has served the Crestview community since 1998.

Mann-Badyrka is a nurse practitioner with experience working in intensive care and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Heegard is a board-certified pediatrician who practiced in San Antonio, Texas, and worked in the pediatric emergency room at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Currier is a board-certified pediatrician who has served as chair of pediatrics and a member of the medical executive committee at Vail Valley Medical Center in Colorado.

Call 683-5100 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Pediatrics, Sacred Heart Medical Group celebrate partnership

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Medical Center's Healthy Woman dinner next month will focus on how humor leads to success.

Guest speaker and humorist Jeanne Robertson will "illustrate that a sense of humor is much more than a laughing matter; it is a strategy for success, allowing you to be fit, fierce and fabulous at any age," an event media release states.

The dinner is 6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Cost is $30 per person, and beverages will be available.

Register at http://conta.cc/1D3wTgC.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Healthy Woman dinner at Crestview Community Center to feature humorist

CRESTVIEW — Sacred Heart Medical Group Pediatrics in Crestview will host an open-house reception 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 16 at 332 Medcrest Drive in Crestview. Lunch will be provided.

The office — which includes Dr. Joseph Peter and advanced nurse practitioner Lindsey Mann-Badyrka — recently joined Sacred Heart Medical Group’s regional network. Two pediatricians — Dr. Jennifer Heegard and Dr. Lisa Currier — have also joined the practice.

Peter has more than 25 years' pediatrics experience, spanning nearly three continents. He has served the Crestview community since 1998 and is known for his community service, particularly annual mission trips to Belize.

•Lindsey Mann-Badyrka is a nurse practitioner with experience working in intensive care and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

•Jennifer Heegard is a board-certified pediatrician who previously practiced in San Antonio, Texas, and worked in the pediatric emergency room at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

•Lisa Currier is a board-certified pediatrician who has served as chair of pediatrics and a member of the medical executive committee at Vail Valley Medical Center in Colorado.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview pediatrics office sets open house

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County is cautioning the public to make sure their family is safe this Fourth of July weekend.

Fourth of July is synonymous with barbecues, parades and fireworks displays, but along with all the festivities are plenty of visits to emergency rooms.

In 2013, eight people died and about 11,400 were injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While the majority of these incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade or other illegal fireworks or explosives, 40 percent were from legal, less powerful devices.

Fireworks also are responsible for thousands of home fires each year. The National Fire Protection Association reports that in 2011, fireworks caused about 1,200 structure fires.

DOH-Okaloosa recommends enjoying fireworks at a public display conducted by seasoned professionals and reminds everyone to be responsible when using legal fireworks.

What fireworks are legal in Florida?

The only fireworks legal for use by consumers who don't possess a special permit in Florida are those that fall into the category known as "sparklers." Those include items such as sparklers, fountains, snakes, and glow worms. Florida law prohibits the recreational use of any fireworks that fly through the air or explode, such as Roman candles, bottle rockets and mortars.

Sparklers

Every year, young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but they are a lot more dangerous than most people think. Parents don't realize they burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and many children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

The National Safety Council provides these fireworks safety tips:

•Never allow young children to handle fireworks.

•Older children should use them only under close adult supervision.

•Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear.

•Never light them indoors.

•Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material.

•Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.

•Never ignite devices in a container.

•Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

•Soak unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.

•Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: State health department in Okaloosa cautions about dangers of fireworks