What is childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)?
Megan Banham, CCC-SLP
As a parent it can sometimes be challenging to know when your child may have a speech disorder and when to seek treatment. Megan Banham, CCC-SLP is helping parents understand what is childhood apraxia of speech and what actions to take if you suspect your child may be struggling with this speech disorder.
What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech:
Childhood Apraxia of Speech(CAS) is a motor speech disorder which makes it difficult to speak. In order to produce speech, our brain sends a message down to our mouth telling the muscles how to move and when to make sounds. A child who has apraxia knows what they want to say, but the message from their brain does not get through correctly, resulting in their tongue or lips not moving the correct way. The problem is not with the way that the child thinks, but more with the way the brain communicates with the muscles used for speech.
CAS is estimated to affect 1-3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States, and it is most often seen in children between the ages of two and six. As a result, CAS is often mistaken for a language delay, as the child may not be able to communicate their needs and wants.
CAS can present itself in the form of difficulty producing the correct sounds, syllables, or words in isolation or in sentences, difficulty sequencing sounds, syllables, and words, and difficulty with the rhythm and intonation of speech. Generally speaking, the more complex the communication, the more difficult it becomes for a child with CAS.
It is important to note that each child with CAS presents with their own unique profile of strengths and weaknesses. While some children may have difficulty producing specific sounds, others may have difficulty producing all sounds. Additionally, some children may display better speech accuracy and fluency in certain contexts and environments, while others may demonstrate more difficulty.
Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Apraxia. of Speech:
Some possible signs and symptoms of CAS include:
Putting stress on the wrong syllable or word (e.g. kan-GA-roo instead of kan-ga-ROO)
Distorts or changes sounds
Making inconsistent errors in speech or not saying a word the same way - Voicing errors (e.g. ‘pik’ instead of ‘pig’)
Can say shorter words better than longer words
In addition children with CAS may have other problems which may include:
Delayed language
Problems with reading
Difficulty with fine motor skills
What to Do if You Suspect Your Child has Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
If you suspect that your child has CAS contact our clinic to receive professional help. The goal of treatment is to get your child to say sounds, words and sentences more clearly by teaching them how to make the right movements at the right time. Treatment will take time, but as your child continues to practice their speech will improve.
It is important to remember that CAS is a neurological disorder, which means that it is a life-long diagnosis. However, with appropriate intervention and support, many children with CAS can make significant gains in their speech and communication abilities.