Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

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​Childhood apraxia of speech is a motor-speech disorder where the brain has difficulty sending messages to muscles necessary to use for speech such as the lips, tongue and jaw, which results in not producing sounds.  The child knows what they want to say but have difficulty producing it.  The brain cannot coordinate with the muscles needed to produce the words.
Sign and Symptoms:
  • no babbling/cooing as an infant
  • ​can only produce a few vowel/consonant sounds
  • pausing between sounds
  • inconsistent sound errors
  • difficultly saying longer words/phrases
  • hard to understand
  • delayed language development
  • hyper/hyposensitivity in the mouth
Diagnosis:
  • An evaluation is completed to assess the child's oral-motor skills and speech sound development
  • includes imitating non-speech actions such as moving the tongue back and forth
  • evaluating vowel and consonant sounds
  • also determines how well others can understand the child during speech
  • using the appropriate stress on words and pitch on questions and statements
PictureA chart of typically developing language development
  


​Helpful Strategies and Information:

Treatment:

  • Frequent intensive therapy 3 to 5 times per week
  • Individual therapy more effective than group
  • improve on sequencing, planning and coordination of muscles
  • tactile and visual cues such as practicing infront of a mirror
  • sign language
  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • practicing at home and with family​

Causes:
  • Genetic
  • Stroke/brain injury

To learn more, visit the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association
VML is voice motor learning.  It is designed to treat the speech problem.  It focuses 
on analyzing and changing the treatment procedure regularly.  Focuses on hands on
techniques.  Click here for more information 
More Resources/Strategies:
http://www.apraxia-kids.org/library/literacy-and-children-with-apraxia-of-speech/

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/casana-demand-webinar-library-techniques/

http://pursuitofresearch.org/2014/02/28/teaching-tips-for-a-speech-impaired-child/

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Multi-sensory activities:
  • Write the letters on the child's back as your are saying them and have the child say them
  • Have the child teach an adult the letters so they have to say them
  • Rhyming game on a magnetic board or white board
  • Confidence books - a book that may be easy for the child to read or may be memorized
  • Click here more ideas!
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Even if it is below grade level, Dr. Seuss books may be a confidence booster if the child can read it easily
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Lobes of the brain and how the brain executes your motor plan


​The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America

  • Nonprofit to support lives of children with apraxia
  • Each child can have the best opportunity to work on speech and communication skills
  • Provide practical support to families with therapy grants 
  • Encourage funding and research in CAS and scientific research meetings
  • Learn more at:  http://www.apraxia-kids.org/about-casana/
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Different treatment tools to help student with tongue placement for correct articulation