Apraxia is a speech and language disorder where the brain has trouble sending messages to the muscles that control speech. There are two types - acquired apraxia seen in adults, and developmental (childhood) apraxia of speech. Characteristics include difficulties with motor skills, putting sounds together to form words, and other challenges like reading and writing. Causes can include strokes, injuries or genetic factors. Treatment involves speech therapy focusing on repetition to retrain muscle movements.

1. Apraxia
SHELBY PENDLETON-WEATHERS
OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

2. What is Apraxia?
• A speech and language (communication) disorder
• A motor speech disorder, which basically means the brain has trouble
sending messages to the lips, mouth and tongue
• Two types:
• Acquired Apraxia which is more common in adults
• Developmental Apraxia, also known as Childhood Apraxia of Speech
(CAS)
• birth to death
• Can be mild to severe

3. Characteristics
• Complications with large and small motor skills
• verbal difficulty putting sounds and syllables together correctly to form words
• difficulty running, skipping
• finger dexterity (holding and controlling a pencil affects handwriting)
• Understand language better than they can speak it especially multi-syllable words
• Other challenges can include problems with reading, writing, spelling, math, chewing
and swallowing difficulties
• Suffer from certain stigmas and stereotypes
• less mature than their peers
• socially awkward so making friends is tough

4. Prevalence
• More common in boys than in girls
• Possible causes for adult Apraxia
• include stroke
• neurological injuries or condition
• traumatic brain injury
• Doctors don’t always know what causes Childhood Apraxia
• genetic
• a simple infection
• You might be surprised to learn that the fierce mixed martial artist Rhonda
Rousey has Apraxia

5. Treatments/Support
• Speech and language pathologists diagnose Apraxia
• Treatments
• speech therapy
• ultrasound biofeedback (recording child tongue movement during sound production then working to
change placement for correct sound)
• tactile facilitation
• repetition, repetition, repetition
• occupational therapy for motor planning (both fine and gross)
• sign language

6. Simulation Activity
• Place two crackers in your mouth
• Chew 5 times and do NOT swallow or move the food toward your cheeks
• Say this sentence:
• Shelby sells seashells by the seashore

7. Infographic

8. Sources
• https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/apraxia-speech
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-apraxia-of-
speech/symptoms-causes/dxc-20202057
• https://www.apraxia-kids.org/library_category/understanding-apraxia/
• http://www.speechirl.com/blog/the-speech-therapy-stigma
• https://www.apraxia-kids.org/library/exploring-new-treatment-methods-for-childhood-
apraxia-of-speech/
• https://www.apraxia-kids.org/library/who-is-qualified-to-diagnosis-childhood-apraxia-
of-speech/
• http://www.apraxia-kids.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/BSHM_Factsheet2.pdf