What do you need to know about apraxia of speech?

What do you need to know about apraxia of speech?

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a neurological disorder that affects the brain pathways involved in producing speech. Learn more about its symptoms and treatments. Apraxia of speech (AOS)—also known as acquired apraxia of speech, verbal apraxia, or childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) when diagnosed in children—is a speech sound disorder.

What causes a child to have developmental apraxia?

CAS may be the result of brain (neurological) conditions or injury, such as a stroke, infections or traumatic brain injury. CAS may also occur as a symptom of a genetic disorder, syndrome or metabolic condition. For example, CAS occurs more frequently in children with galactosemia. CAS is sometimes referred to as developmental apraxia.

Are there speech sound disorders that overlap with CAS?

Some speech sound disorders often get confused with CAS because some of the characteristics may overlap. These speech sound disorders include articulation disorders, phonologic disorders and dysarthria.

Why do some people have a hard time making speech?

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder that is due to weakness, spasticity or inability to control the speech muscles. Making speech sounds is difficult because the speech muscles can’t move as far, as quickly or as strongly as normal. People with dysarthria may also have a hoarse, soft or even strained voice, or slurred or slow speech.

How is AOS related to weakness of speech muscles?

AOS is not caused by weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles (the muscles of the jaw, tongue, or lips). Weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles results in a separate speech disorder, known as dysarthria.

What kind of speech therapy do you need for AOS?

Frequent, intensive, one-on-one speech-language therapy sessions are needed for both children and adults with AOS. (The repetitive exercises and personal attention needed to improve AOS are difficult to deliver in group therapy.)