Independent Speech, LLC

What is Apraxia of Speech?

What is Apraxia of Speech?  Well, it is a motor disorder that is caused by damage to parts of the brain that are related to speaking. It is characterized by a difficulty in sequencing sounds to form syllables and words.  The severity level is dependent on the nature and extent of the damage.

For someone who experiences Apraixia of speech, they know what they want to say but have difficulty coordinating the muscle movements to produce the words. They may say a word that is completely different from the intended word or may say a nonsense word (a word that isn’t real).  If they do notice the mistake, they may try again and produce the desired word or a completely different word altogether, thus causing the listener further confusion.  This can be extremely frustrating to the speaker.

There are some classic characteristics of Apraxia.  These include:

1) difficulty imitating speech (repeating sounds, words, etc.)
2) difficulty imitating motor movements (for example, sticking out their tongue, licking their lips, etc.)
3) a grouping or searching quality when trying to produce sounds
4) inconsistent errors, though can have some very clear rote phrases such as “how are you” that are automatic in nature
5) speak with a slower rate of speech

Speech therapy can help an individual with aprxia improve their speech skills and overall communication skills.  This therapy can take many forms and will evolve as the student improves or makes changes to their speech patterns.

Speech therapy can be very productive and effective for those who experience apraxia of speech.  If you would like to learn more about online speech therapy please contact one of our speech pathologists by phone at 1-877-480-7913 or by e-mail to info@independentspeech.com.

Online Speech Therapy by Independent Speech ~ www.independentspeech.com