What ASHA has to say about APRAXIA of SPEECH (a must read)

[Guest guest]

What treatments are available for children with apraxia of speech?

Research shows the children with CAS have more success when they

receive frequent (3-5 times per week) and intensive treatment.

Children seen alone for treatment tend to do better than children

seen in groups. As the child improves, they may need treatment less

often, and group therapy may be a better alternative.

The focus of intervention for the child diagnosed with CAS is on

improving the planning, sequencing, and coordination of muscle

movements for speech. Isolated exercises designed to " strengthen " the

oral muscles will not help without a combined focus on speech

production. CAS is a disorder of speech coordination, not strength.

To improve speech, the child must practice speech. However, getting

feedback from a number of senses, such as tactile " touch " cues and

visual cues (e.g., watching him/herself in the mirror) as well as

auditory feedback, is often helpful. With this multi-sensory

feedback, the child can more readily repeat syllables, words,

sentences and longer utterances to improve muscle coordination and

sequencing for speech.

Some clients may be taught to use sign language or an augmentative

and alternative communication system (e.g., a portable computer that

writes and/or produces speech) if the apraxia makes speaking very

difficult. Once speech production is improved, the need for these

systems may lessen, but they can be used to support speech or move

the child more quickly to higher levels of language complexity.

Practice at home is very important. Families will often be given

assignments to help the child progress and allow the child to use new

strategies outside of the treatment room, and to assure optimal

progress in therapy.

One of the most important things for the family to remember is that

treatment of apraxia of speech takes time and commitment. Children

with CAS need a supportive environment that helps them feel

successful with communication. For children who also receive other

services, such as physical or occupational therapy, families and

professionals need to schedule services in a way that does not make

the child too tired and unable to make the best use of therapy time.