Definition of Verbal Apraxia: also called childhood apraxia of speech.
Verbal apraxia is a coordination disorder that affects the brain's ability to coordinate the type, order and timing of oral-motor movements for speech. Many medical professionals and speech-language pathologists say they "don't believe in" childhood apraxia. There is some controversy surrounding this condition, as the term "apraxia" refers to a disorder in adults resulting from damage to the brain, such as a stroke or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Researchers have yet to find a definitive cause for this disorder in children. Many of the symptoms we see in children with childhood apraxia are similar to those seen in adult apraxia, so for the purpose of this discussion, we will use the term "apraxia."

Characteristics:
A child who shows signs of childhood apraxia is typically a late talker. He learns new wordsslowly and may even use the same word for several different things. He may get frustrated because he means to say one word and another word comes out. Parents may hear their child say a word one or two times and never hear it again. A child with verbal apraxia may be able to say a word spontaneously, but be unable to repeat it when asked. As a child with apraxia acquires speech, he may leave out words, syllables or sounds. All of these problems relate to difficulty in planning and coordinating the oral-motor movements necessary for speech.

Treatment:
We use proven systematic therapy strategies to train your child to coordinate the movements necessary for speech sounds. Following our treatment plan will improve your child's ability to communicate their wants and needs. Our goal is clear, age-appropriate speech for your child.