What is Apraxia?

Apraxia is a speech disorder characterized by the inability to consistently pronounce words and sounds. This disorder is often referred to as verbal apraxia because individuals affected by it may have difficulty forming the correct sounds within their speech to communicate effectively. This type of non-verbal learning disorder is not attributed to any oral physical conditions, such as muscle weakness of the tongue or lips. Some of the symptoms that may be an indicator are:

Problems forming all of the sounds within a word or a sentence
Inconsistency of sound production. People with this disorder may be able to produce a sound one minute and then have a sudden inability to reproduce the same sound the next minute.
Individuals affected by apraxia may also have difficulty with intonation in natural speech; the tone of their voice may not be appropriate for the language being expressed.

The cognitive abilities of those affected by apraxia, however, are generally not impaired. These individuals may be able to understand speech; they are just unable to reproduce it themselves. There are two classifications for this disorder: acquired apraxia of speech and developmental apraxia of speech.

Acquired Apraxia of Speech:

Acquired apraxia of speech most often occurs in adults and can be the result of injury or trauma to the brain. This classification is based on the loss of already existing speech abilities. The treatment for acquired apraxia is speech therapy administered by a qualified speech and language pathologist, combined with other forms of physical rehabilitation depending upon the individual circumstances.

Developmental Apraxia of Speech:

Developmental apraxia of speech, or DAS, is seen in young children. It is believed that children who show signs of DAS are born with the condition. Unlike typical developmental speech delays, where children develop language skills at a slower rate, developmental apraxia continues to affect the child’s pronunciation skills and language acquisition until a diagnosis is obtained and treatment can be administered. Apraxia and autism share similar traits because each condition has impaired communication abilities, and they are also both more likely to occur in boys than in girls.

Causes of Apraxia:

There has been no definitive discovery of the cause of developmental apraxia. Neurological studies, including MRIs of brain activity and other forms of neurological testing, have not identified any singular factor connected with the disorder. Some experts believe that there is a breakdown in the neural pathways inside the brain, causing a disconnection between the portion of the brain responsible for language production and the tongue. This disconnection may prevent the proper pronunciation of sounds.

Treatments for Apraxia:

If you believe your child displays some of the symptoms of apraxia, you need to contact your family healthcare provider and express your concerns as soon as possible. Early intervention is the first step towards recovery.