Your child’s speech development is vital for their overall growth and success in school and beyond. If your child is experiencing childhood apraxia of speech, our caring speech-language pathologists are here to help. Keep reading to find out what this condition is, why it should be addressed right away, and how early intervention can improve your child’s speech skills.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a disorder that prevents children from being able to express their ideas verbally. In order to move your body the way you want, your brain sends signals to your body parts telling them what to do. For children with CAS, the brain has trouble sending these signals to the muscles needed for speech: the tongue, lips, and jaw.
A child with CAS can understand and use language, but their speech is limited because of this miscommunication between the brain and the speech muscles. If left untreated, CAS can affect your child’s ability to make friends, participate in school activities, and succeed in their future career. It is not a condition that children can outgrow, which is why early intervention is vital for their overall growth and development.
Signs of Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Each child experiences CAS differently, though there are several signs that can indicate your child has this condition, such as:
- Pronounces the same word differently each time they say it
- Emphasizes the wrong syllable in a word (or wrong word in a sentence)
- Struggles with articulation
- Reaches speech milestones later than their peers
- Pausing between words (or syllables in a word
- Struggles to put their ideas into words
It’s important to note that several of these signs are also symptoms of other speech delays or disorders. If you’re worried about your child’s speech development, you should speak with their pediatrician for a referral to our speech-language pathologists who can give you a proper diagnosis.
How Can Speech Therapy Address Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Our pediatric speech-language pathologists are trained to address childhood apraxia of speech. We use proven therapeutic exercises, techniques, and activities to help children master their speech skills. We can also teach your child to use alternative communication methods, such as sign language or augmented communication devices, to empower them to share their ideas while building their speech skills. Plus, we’ll give you tips and activities you can do at home with your child to help them continue working on these skills between therapy sessions. With our one-on-one treatment, and your support, we can work together to help your child overcome CAS.
Benefits of Pediatric Speech Therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Through lots of practice, your child can experience the incredible benefits of speech therapy, including:
- Improved ability to share their ideas
- Better articulation and clarity of speech
- Increased happiness and self-esteem
- Better ability to socialize with others
- Increased confidence
Schedule Your Child’s Evaluation
Pediatric Therapy Partners has clinics in Bossier and Shreveport, LA, to meet your family’s needs. All you have to do is call us at (318) 746-1199 or fill out the contact form below and our Intake Coordinator will help you schedule your child’s speech therapy evaluation.