What are the signs of childhood apraxia of speech?

Sarah Clifford Scheflen, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist, shares advice for parents on the signs of childhood apraxia of speech and how apraxia is best treated in kids
The Signs Of Apraxia Of Speech In Children
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What are the signs of childhood apraxia of speech?

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Childhood apraxia of speech is when a child has difficulty with motor planning. They might have trouble planning or articulating the lips, tongue, jaw, necessary for speech. You might want to say "ball," but you don't know how to get it out. You get stuck. You might hear a child say "shoe" one day and then you don't hear it again. Also, children with apraxia have a lot on inconsistencies errors in their speech, so they might say "ball" correctly one time and it comes out differently each other time. It's very inconsistent. Children with apraxia have vowel distortion, so they have difficulty in producing their vowels. Also, children with apraxia might be able to talk in single words, but as the length of the sentence gets longer, a breakdown occurs. At times we see children with apraxia that can sing because it just comes out naturally, they don't have to think about it. But then you say, "I want cookie," there's a breakdown. So anything with motor planning. Apraxia is treated by a speech pathologist and I really recommend someone who is trained in the prompt technique. There's a website for the prompt technique. Therapists who are trained in this, I find the most effective in dealing with apraxia.

Sarah Clifford Scheflen, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist, shares advice for parents on the signs of childhood apraxia of speech and how apraxia is best treated in kids

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Sarah Clifford Scheflen, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Sarah Cilfford Scheflen, MS, CCC-SLP is a pediatric clinical speech–language pathologist who specializes in working with children with autism and other developmental disorders. She works exclusively with children, primarily between the ages of 12 months to eight years.

Sarah is the founder of Scheflen Speech–Language Pathology, Inc., her private practice in Santa Monica, California, as well as the co-founder (together with autism advocate Jenny McCarthy) of Teach2Talk, LLC, a producer of quality educational products including video–modeling DVDs that teach children a variety of skills including appropriate behavior, social skills, play and language. 

She is also the senior speech–language pathologist on staff at an intensive partial–hospitalization program for autism located at a major public research university located in Los Angeles, California, where Sarah has provided therapy to hundreds of children with autism spectrum disorders and conducted research into various treatment modalities. 

Sarah is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer, and her research focuses on teaching play, social skills and language to children through video modeling.

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Transcription: 
Childhood apraxia of speech is when a child has difficulty with motor planning. They might have trouble planning or articulating the lips, tongue, jaw, necessary for speech. You might want to say "ball," but you don't know how to get it out. You get stuck. You might hear a child say "shoe" one day and then you don't hear it again. Also, children with apraxia have a lot on inconsistencies errors in their speech, so they might say "ball" correctly one time and it comes out differently each other time. It's very inconsistent. Children with apraxia have vowel distortion, so they have difficulty in producing their vowels. Also, children with apraxia might be able to talk in single words, but as the length of the sentence gets longer, a breakdown occurs. At times we see children with apraxia that can sing because it just comes out naturally, they don't have to think about it. But then you say, "I want cookie," there's a breakdown. So anything with motor planning. Apraxia is treated by a speech pathologist and I really recommend someone who is trained in the prompt technique. There's a website for the prompt technique. Therapists who are trained in this, I find the most effective in dealing with apraxia.