Apraxia Of Speech

What is apraxia of speech?

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a neurological disorder. It affects the pathways in your brain via which you plan the sequence of movements necessary to speak. Your mind knows what it intends to say, but can't plan or sequence the speech sound movements needed to produce the right words.

If you have AOS, you experience difficulty saying what you mean, making communication difficult and frustrating. Some people who have AOS find it challenging to communicate at all using speech. At the other end of the scale, it might just cause you to make odd sounds or have problems with pronunciation.

What causes apraxia of speech?

Some children are born with AOS. Brain scans on children who have childhood AOS don't display any clues about the cause of their condition. There are no differences in their brain structure and no signs of damage to the brain.

Childhood AOS (also known as developmental apraxia of speech) seems likely to have a genetic cause. Children affected by it often have family members with communication difficulties or learning disabilities, and boys are more likely to have childhood AOS than girls.

You can also develop AOS after birth. Acquired AOS typically affects adults, and is usually the result of damage to the areas of your brain that control speech. It often develops after a head injury or stroke, or because of a brain tumor.

Acquired AOS sometimes occurs alongside other conditions that develop because of nervous system disorders, like dysarthria and aphasia.

People who develop acquired AOS sometimes recover spontaneously. However, a child who has AOS can't grow out of the problem on their own. Therefore, children with AOS and people who have persistent acquired AOS require speech-language therapy.

How can speech-language therapy help with apraxia of speech?

There are several alternatives when it comes to treating apraxia of speech. Your speech-language therapist at Celebrations Speech Group designs treatment individually to suit your needs. They also address any other communication problems at the same time.

Both children and adults who have AOS require sessions of intensive one-on-one speech-language therapy. These sessions take place frequently and involve repetitive exercises to improve their speech abilities.

Some children need to receive therapy for years to help them overcome their AOS. In a few cases, AOS might be so severe that it's impossible to use verbal language to communicate. In these cases, your therapist at Celebrations Speech Group helps you or your child learn sign language or use a notebook or electronic device to communicate.

If you're struggling to speak or worry about your child's speech, call Celebrations Speech Group or book an appointment online today.