Here is a bio on Cyndi Epplin - a speech therapist trained to work with Apraxia and Dyspraxia of Speech patients.

1. Cyndi Epplin – Apraxia of Speech Therapist
Cyndi Epplin knew she wanted to be a speech therapist from a very young age. Growing up in suburban
Philadelphia, her best friend from Kindergarten through 12th grade suffered from a severe stuttering
program that she was able to overcome with the help of her speech therapist. The impact the speech
therapist had on the quality of her friend’s life was not lost on the young Cyndi and her path in life was
thusly forged. Epplin spent her first two years of college at the University of Maryland – College Park
where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology. Epplin immediately went on to obtain
her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University. Epplin’s specialization is in
Apraxia of speech, a field that caught her interest in her undergraduate studies and which she pursued
specialization in upon graduation and during her Master’s program.
Apraxia, also known as verbal apraxia or dyspraxia is a speech disorder in which a person has trouble
saying what he or she wants to both correctly and consistency. Epplin focuses her practice on
developmental apraxia. Acquired apraxia of speech is most common in adults though it can affect a
person at any age. It is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that involve speech and can be
caused by a stroke, tumor, head injury or other illness involving the brain.
On the other end of the spectrum is developmental apraxia of speech which is present in children
afflicted with this disorder from birth.
Epplin’s practice is focused 75% on developmental apraxia and 25% on acquired apraxia and loves
working with children, however, any time she receives a call about another adult contracting apraxia for
whatever reason, Epplin provides her services, knowing that lacking the ability to express oneself can be
one of the most isolating and frustrating things a person can have happen to them. Obviously working
with young children is Epplin’s passion, since it was her childhood friend that inspired her to pursue her
career as a speech pathologist/therapist.
“Developmental apraxia is caused by a subtle brain impairment or malfunction. It is frustrating because
this problem is a pervasive issue in the affected child’s life, yet science doesn’t yet have an answer of
why it happens,” Epplin said. In fact, current theories support the supposition that developmental
apraxia is very specific, very small injury in the speech area of the brain that renders the sufferer unable
to properly form words to speak them.
Epplin’s practice is open M-F from 9am to 8pm and she has several therapists that assist her in all areas
of speech delay. Epplin works with Early Intervention Services, Child Protective Services and the Foster
Children’s system. She also works with special education schools to help children afflicted with
developmental apraxia, often at no cost to them. Epplin is an avid runner who competes in as many as
three marathons every year and enjoys Jazz music.