Apraxia

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
CAS is a motor speech disorder, probably of genetic origin, affecting the individual’s ability to voluntarily make the right movements, when needed, during speech. Children with CAS can sometimes make movements involuntarily, while speaking that they cannot make voluntarily. 

Children with motor speech disorders have difficulty with one or more of the following

o Producing their speech sounds;

o Remembering how to make and where to put their speech sounds; and,

o Organizing their speech sounds. 

A clear diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

o May be possible at the initial consultation with the Speech Pathologist

o Or after a short period of therapy;

o Or after lengthy therapy;

o Or impossible, especially in very young children, or those with little or no speech.

Commitment

The Speech Pathology assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a child with CAS usually involve a long-term commitment for the therapist, for the child’s family, and for the child.

Speech progress may be very slow

Even with appropriate diagnosis and intervention speech progress may be very slow. This can adversely affect the confidence of parents, and sometimes the confidence of the therapist too, as well as the “willingness” of the child to participate and cooperate in therapy sessions and homework. So building an effective therapy team you can trust is extremely important.