Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) falls under the umbrella of speech sound disorders. It is simply a label to identify a specific type of speech sound disorder, not a medical diagnosis. CAS is characterized by the inaccuracy of motor movements needed to produce and connect speech sounds in order to communicate intelligibly.
Diagnosing and Treating CAS
It is important to diagnose Childhood Apraxia of Speech because this will determine what treatment looks like for a child. Although CAS is a type of speech sound disorder, it won’t be treated in the same way that a phonological disorder would be treated. Rather than focusing on a certain sound that a child is having difficulty with, the focus should be on the motor movements. A diagnosis of CAS will impact the frequency of therapy that is needed for a child, and the types of modeling and feedback that is provided within sessions.
Characteristics of Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- Inconsistent speech errors (saying a word differently each time)
- More errors in sentences than in single words
- Groping (attempting to get their tongue, lips, or jaw where they need to go but not getting the right sound out)
- Vowel distortions
- Frequently leaving sounds out of words (e.g. saying “o-en” instead of “open”)
- Using simple syllable shapes (CV or VC)- (e.g. “go” or “on”)
- Poor intelligibility (difficult to understand)
Comorbidities and Prognosis
Childhood Apraxia of Speech is sometimes, though not always, accompanied by other areas of difficulty. These include language delays/disorders, phonological disorders, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, and executive functioning deficits. Additionally, it is not uncommon for a child with apraxia to improve their motor speech deficits, leaving speech sound errors that need to be targeted, in which case the treatment approach may change in order to target specific speech sounds to improve intelligibility.
Every child is different, so it is not possible to predict an outcome for all children with CAS. However, many children who receive speech therapy for childhood apraxia of speech learn to speak and are verbal and intelligible despite it being a lifelong diagnosis.
Additional Resources for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- For more information on CAS please visit https://www.apraxia-kids.org
- For stories and insight from an adult who was diagnosed with CAS as a child visit https://fightingformyvoice.com/blog/
- For more information from a speech pathologist who also has a child of her own who was diagnosed with CAS, read the book Overcoming Apraxia written by Laura Baskall Smith.
Get Support With Apraxia at Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center
If you think your child is struggling with speech intelligibility, reach out to Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center today! A speech therapy and learning center located near the Des Moines metro area and Iowa City; Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center specializes in helping kids achieve effective communication and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.
info@enrichmenttherapies.com
740 Community Drive, Unit A
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2553
infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com
5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300
Johnston, IA 50131
515-419-4270
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