Common Causes And Risk Factors For Dyspraxia And Overlapping Conditions

Childhood Apraxia Of Speech

Childhood apraxia of speech is an uncommon condition that impacts a patient's speech. The condition causes the patient to have trouble making accurate movements during speech. Although the muscles needed for speaking are not weak, the brain struggles to coordinate the proper movements required for speech. When childhood apraxia of speech is present, the patient might start speaking later than others, and might only be able to form a few vowel or consonant sounds. The child may have a limited number of spoken words in general. Between the ages of two and four, patients with this condition might place a separation between syllables while speaking, and vowel and consonant sounds could be distorted. Voicing errors might occur as well. To diagnose childhood apraxia of speech, children will have hearing tests, a speech evaluation, and oral-motor tests. Treatment includes speech therapy with speech drills, vowel practice, and sound and movement exercises. Parents will also be encouraged to practice speaking skills with their child at home and to review what was learned in speech therapy.