Childhood Apraxia May Greatly Affect Speech Development

Childhood apraxia is a motor speech disorder that comes from the root word "praxis," which means "planned movement." Children with the disorder may have a very difficult time producing the exact movement of the lips, tongue, jaw, and palate necessary for intelligible speech. As of now, neurological studies have not been able to identify a specific cause of childhood apraxia, but some experts believe it is a result of a breakdown in the neurological pathways in the brain.

Speech begins to develop in children when they make attempts to say words and sounds they have heard and are provided feedback. Through repeated listening and trial by error, children begin to learn the correct way to say and pronounce words. These speech motor plans are then stored in the brain and can be easily accessed whenever necessary from then on. However, childhood apraxia may lead to great difficulty with this type of speech development. Children with apraxia may not be able to pronounce certain words because they cannot perform the appropriate facial movements, and this can become very frustrating for both the child and parent. However, early detection and treatment could help alleviate symptoms of the disorder and lead to improved speech development.

Those who believe that their child is suffering from childhood apraxia may want to contact a physician. After a proper examination and diagnosis, the child may be recommended to see a speech language pathologist. This professional should be able to help form a treatment plan that is best suited to assist the child with individual speech development needs.