Benefits of Pediatric Therapy for Treating Childhood Speech Apraxia
Understanding the condition and how we treat it
Does your child struggle to communicate normal-sounding words? Is your child’s speech delayed or staggered in delivery? At Skills on the Hill in Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA, we treat a wide variety of speech and language disorders with the goal of creating healthier, happier lives for our youthful patients. Here, you will learn about childhood speech apraxia, the associated symptoms, and how we successfully treat the condition.
Speech apraxia can feel frustrating to the child, as well as negatively impact their self-esteem and peer relationships. That’s why our speech and language pathologists, or SLPs, at Skills on the Hill provide unique and effective strategies to help restore your child’s communication skills.
What is apraxia of speech?
Childhood speech apraxia, also known as CAS or Orofacial Apraxia, is a type of speech disorder in which a child cannot properly produce sound and vowel combinations into clear words. Children are usually born with speech apraxia, and it is more commonly seen in boys than in girls.
Children with CAS have difficulty with their motor and muscle movements, which makes them unable to speak as clearly as other kids. If a child has speech apraxia, they can understand what they want to say but cannot communicate intelligible words.
How do I know if my child has apraxia?
Parents may first notice their child seems inconsistent trying to pronounce words, for example, making a mistake saying a word then repeating the same word and making a different mistake. If your child has CAS, they’re likely to be displaying these characteristics:
- Delayed production of words
- Difficulty communicating simple words
- Difficulty moving from one sound to another
- A limited number of clearly spoken words or staggered speech
- Distortions or difficulty forming vowel and consonant sounds
- Separation or hesitation of syllables in a sentence
- Voicing glitches, such as “push” sounding like “bush”
In CAS, the brain cannot correctly communicate plans for speech movement. While the speech muscles still function, they struggle to perform normally because the brain is not coordinating the movements properly.
Before assuming your child has apraxia based on these behaviors, it’s essential to consult with one of our highly trained pediatric therapists. After an initial consultation at Skills on the Hill, one of our SLPs can provide a diagnosis and recommend the next steps.
What to expect during pediatric therapy for speech apraxia
Initially, you and your child will visit Skills on the Hill for an evaluation of your child’s apraxia. During your appointment, our specialists will assess your child’s:
- Oral–motor skills
- Speech melody
- Speech sounds alone as well as combined in syllables or words
- Speech clarity
- Speed and rhythm
Fortunately, our experts know how to help train your child’s brain to direct speech movement and correct this condition. During pediatric therapy, your child’s SLP will work on exercising their speech muscles to move the jaw, lips, and tongue appropriately. The result of treatment is your child’s ability to produce proper-sounding words and speak at a normal speed and rhythm.
It is important to remember that every child presents CAS differently, and no two cases are the same. Our pediatric therapists will design a treatment plan customized to your child’s unique needs.
During pediatric therapy at Skills on the Hill, your child’s speech-language pathologist will provide exercises that focus on practicing vowel sounds, syllables, words, and phrases. It’s important to note that our SLPs make therapy fun, challenging, and rewarding for our young patients.
Some methods that are commonly practiced in therapy include:
- Fun speech drills for difficult words
- Having the child place their fingers on their lips to feel movement with specific words
- Recording their exercises, then having the child observe their correct and incorrect behaviors
- Having the child watch themself speak in a mirror to see how it looks to make certain sounds
- Teaching the child sign language
Request an appointment at Skills on the Hill today!
Understanding your child’s development and behaviors can be a challenging and stressful process. With so much evidence and mixed opinions online, knowing the right thing to do can be overwhelming.
The good news is our experienced and talented pediatric therapists at Skills on the Hill are passionate about our young patients and can’t wait to be a part of their journey.
Contact us today for faster results and a happier life for your child!
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