Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) refers to difficulty with the sequencing and organizing of motor or muscle movements specifically for the production of speech. It may also be described as a motor planning difficulty. Muscle weakness is not a characteristic of apraxia. It is part of a group of disorders referred to as motor speech disorders.
Traditional therapy methods typically used to treat articulation disorders are often not found to be effective for children with apraxia. There are a variety of treatment options that have seen good results. Some of these include PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Motor Targets) and the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol. Children with CAS do not all respond to the same treatment approaches/strategies. As a speech-language pathologist who has worked with many children with childhood apraxia of speech, it is important for me to be knowledgeable and skilled at various approaches. I often use a combination of techniques, depending on what seems to be most effective for each particular child.
The use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods may be recommended while the child is also working on speech.
More information about CAS can be found at the Apraxia Kids website.