Apraxia/Dyspraxia - the difference

May 22, 2002

Here is a posting a sent a while ago that will help with this question

(what is the difference between apraxia and dyspraxia.)

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Hello!!

Here is what I know about the different terminology - I am a mom to

a 4 year old with developmental verbal dyspraxia who has been in

therapy for

1 1/2 years now, and I too am still learning new things about this

disorder every day!!

Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia and Apraxia of speech are the same

thing. Why there are 2 different names I do not know. It seems that

Apraxia is mainly used in the U.S. and Dyspraxia is used in other

parts of the

world.

Dyspraxia is used by itself a lot (without verbal in front of it)

because there are different types of dyspraxia - limb dyspraxia, oral

dyspraxia, verbal dyspraxia, global dyspraxia. They are all motor-

planning disorders that are neurologically based, they just affect the

" path " to

different parts of the body.

Oral dyspraxia is when there is motor-planning difficulties to the

muscles of the mouth - such as having a hard time moving the tongue

around,

up-and-down, puckering, etc. This usually goes along with oral

hypotonia -I think. My son had to really practice to be able to put

his tongue on his top lip - we would practice in front of the mirror and

he would have to use his hands before he finally got it weeks later!!!! We

still have to practice, but he is getting better at it. (It is actually

encouraged to stick your tongue out in my house!!)

Remember - I am just a mom but I think I understand these pretty

well. I hope I have helped a little!!

Carnell

North Carolina

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