Childhood Apraxia of Speech
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says that apraxia is a motor speech disorder that makes it hard to speak. It can take a lot of work to learn to say sounds and words better. Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help.
About Childhood Apraxia of Speech
In order for speech to occur, messages need to go from your brain to your mouth. These messages tell the muscles how and when to move to make sounds. When a child has apraxia of speech, the messages do not get through correctly. The child might not be able to move their lips or tongue in the right ways, even though their muscles are not weak. Sometimes, the child might not be able to say much at all.
A child with CAS knows what they want to say. The problem is not how the child thinks but how the brain tells the mouth muscles to move.
CAS is sometimes called verbal dyspraxia or developmental apraxia. Even though the word “developmental" is used, CAS is not a problem that children outgrow. A child with CAS will not learn speech sounds in typical order and will not make progress without treatment. It can take a lot of work, but the child’s speech can improve.
Signs and Symptoms
Not all children with CAS are the same. Your child may show some or all of the signs below.
Most of the time, the cause of CAS is unknown. In some cases, damage to the brain causes CAS. Damage may be caused by a genetic disorder or syndrome, or by a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
Role of a Speech Pathologist
An SLP can test your child’s speech and language skills. Many children with speech sound disorders also have language disorders.
To test for CAS, the SLP will look at your child’s oral–motor skills, speech melody (intonation), and how they says different sounds. To test how your child says sounds, the SLP will
How can a parent help?
CAS treatment takes time, and your child will need your support. Practice what your child learns with the SLP to help them make progress. Take breaks when your child is tired and make practice as much fun as possible. Tell your child’s SLP what happens at home so you can all work together to help your child succeed.
For more information, visit asha.org.
References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Childhood apraxia of speech. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/childhood-apraxia-of-speech/
About Childhood Apraxia of Speech
In order for speech to occur, messages need to go from your brain to your mouth. These messages tell the muscles how and when to move to make sounds. When a child has apraxia of speech, the messages do not get through correctly. The child might not be able to move their lips or tongue in the right ways, even though their muscles are not weak. Sometimes, the child might not be able to say much at all.
A child with CAS knows what they want to say. The problem is not how the child thinks but how the brain tells the mouth muscles to move.
CAS is sometimes called verbal dyspraxia or developmental apraxia. Even though the word “developmental" is used, CAS is not a problem that children outgrow. A child with CAS will not learn speech sounds in typical order and will not make progress without treatment. It can take a lot of work, but the child’s speech can improve.
Signs and Symptoms
Not all children with CAS are the same. Your child may show some or all of the signs below.
- does not always say words the same way every time;
- tends to put the stress on the wrong syllable or word;
- distorts or changes sounds; or
- can say shorter words more clearly than longer words.
- difficulty with fine motor skills;
- delayed language; or
- problems with reading, spelling, and writing.
Most of the time, the cause of CAS is unknown. In some cases, damage to the brain causes CAS. Damage may be caused by a genetic disorder or syndrome, or by a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
Role of a Speech Pathologist
An SLP can test your child’s speech and language skills. Many children with speech sound disorders also have language disorders.
To test for CAS, the SLP will look at your child’s oral–motor skills, speech melody (intonation), and how they says different sounds. To test how your child says sounds, the SLP will
- check how well your child says speech sounds alone and combined in syllables or words and
- check how well others can understand what your child says.
How can a parent help?
CAS treatment takes time, and your child will need your support. Practice what your child learns with the SLP to help them make progress. Take breaks when your child is tired and make practice as much fun as possible. Tell your child’s SLP what happens at home so you can all work together to help your child succeed.
For more information, visit asha.org.
References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Childhood apraxia of speech. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/childhood-apraxia-of-speech/
