Suppose your child consistently has difficulties putting syllables together, coordinating breaths while speaking, taking long pauses between sounds, words, or syllables, speaks more slowly than considered a normal pace, uses a limited vocabulary or distorts consonants or vowel sounds. If so, they might have a speech disorder known as Childhood Apraxia Syndrome or CAS. The disorder relates to motor coordination as it pertains to speech, which is inherent from the time of birth. It may be mild or severe, but the good news is, there is help. Whatever level of difficulty the child may experience, there are highly effective speech and occupational therapies that can be tailored to the individual child.
Most importantly, CAS is not something for which you or your child should feel embarrassed or ashamed. Apraxia and other speech disorders have no relation to the amount of intelligence or comprehension one has, but rather, how the mind coordinates speech patterns with the mouth’s muscles. Many famous people have overcome speech disorders through therapy and gone on to successful careers and left their mark on the world. Annie Glenn, the wife of astronaut John Glenn, became a spokeswoman for speech disorders after overcoming hers at age 53 when she found therapy. Actors Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, Tiger Woods, and President Joe Biden, all stuttered before receiving professional help. Some embraced their speech impediments, deciding that instead of considering them to be a hindrance, it made them unique, including Barbara Walters, Jimmy Stewart, and Michael Phelps.
While every speech disorder is not always apraxia, every speech disorder can be treated with degrees of success through various therapies. It is still not understood what causes CAS in most cases, and your first step should be your primary healthcare provider, who will probably refer you to a speech-language pathologist (SLP). They will assess the disorder and its level of difficulty through various methods. First, they will review the child’s and family’s medical history, test the child’s hearing, ask the family about what it has observed, and converse with the child one on one. They will then look for any other possible underlying causes, observe interactions with others as well as the child’s environment, and other factors.
Once an evaluation has been made, therapies will be discussed with the family. If a child is having severe difficulties, alternatives may be suggested to help the child in everyday life until treatment can have a positive, long-lasting effect. These may include learning a sign language or using a computer to communicate. No two children are alike, and each will respond to therapy in their own time and manner. However, having the means to communicate meanwhile is essential in their development.
There are a variety of treatments used to help your child along. Everything from visual, multi-sensory, auditory, tactile, and verbal cueing to speech drills and continual practice are effective methods. No one treatment is definitive, and therapists will combine various approaches to discover those that may achieve better results. Some children have more success than others, and some may take more extended periods of time. Each child is unique and will progress at his or her speed. Patience, understanding, and perseverance are key.
Outside of professional therapy, family support is crucial in continuing the treatment at home and boosting your child’s confidence. Besides educating yourselves about the disorder and the suggested therapies, Cedars Sinai offers some positive advice in helping your child by:
• “Not pressuring your child to speak
• Showing patience when your child does want to speak
• Be positive about your child’s efforts
• Model to others how to be supportive of your child’s attempts to communicate
• Be generally supportive and encouraging to your child”
As children age, they may learn how to recognize their speech patterns and be taught techniques to manage it themselves. Others may not notice that they are having difficulty. The earlier you have your child diagnosed and begin therapy, the sooner they may improve their self-esteem, communicate more effectively, and have a positive outlook for the future. Above all, a speech disorder should in no way be contrary to their uniqueness and value in life.
