Childhood Apraxia of Speech | Specialist Therapy & Support

For most parents and caregivers, hearing your child’s first words is a milestone moment filled with joy. But for some families, challenges with speech development can bring concerns and questions that can be hard to navigate without professional assistance.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a complex motor speech disorder that requires specialised care and expertise to overcome.

At The Speech Connection, I am a highly educated, experienced and passionate paediatric speech and language therapist dedicated to helping your children with CAS find their voice. I aim to empower children to express themselves confidently and connect with the world around them with the help of my speech therapy services.

What Is Childhood Apraxia Of Speech?

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that impacts a child’s ability to plan and coordinate the movements necessary for clear and consistent speech. Unlike other speech disorders, CAS is not caused by difficulties organising sounds (called phonological speech difficulties). Instead, it results from difficulties in planning and programming the movements required for speech.

This disconnect can lead to inconsistent sound errors, difficulty imitating speech, and a limited ability to produce complex words and phrases. If your child has CAS they will often find it challenging to combine sounds into syllables and syllables into words. Their speech may appear effortful, with noticeable pauses and unusual intonation patterns.

CAS can significantly affect your child’s ability to communicate effectively, leading to frustration and social challenges for them and concern for you as a parent.

At The Speech Connection, I understand the importance of early intervention and I am committed to supporting your child through personalised and evidence-based therapy; helping them through their communication journey compassionately and effectively.

Why Childhood Apraxia Of Speech Is Unique & Requires A Modified Treatment Approach

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is distinct from other speech and language disorders due to its neurological basis. The defining feature of CAS lies in the difficulty with speech motor planning and programming it causes, which requires us to utilise tailored interventions that differ from those used for other speech challenges.

At The Speech Connection, I recognise that standard speech therapy techniques, while effective for other speech sound disorders, may not address the unique needs of your children with CAS. That’s why my approach includes:

• Frequent & Repetitive Sessions - My therapy sessions are designed to provide the high-intensity practice necessary to reinforce new speech motor patterns.

• Focus On The Principles Of Motor Based Learning - I use the principles of Motor Based learning, which includes the type of feedback, how practice within a session is organised and how targets are chosen to underpin therapy.

• Individualised Treatment Plans - I understand that every child’s speech sound system is unique, which is why as an expert therapist I create bespoke plans tailored to your child’s specific challenges and progress.

• Emphasis On Prosody & Rhythm - I incorporate activities that enhance speech timing, stress, and intonation to help your child achieve natural-sounding speech.

• Advanced Implementation Of Evidence-Based Intervention - I use evidence-based intervention of Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC), Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST), Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme (NDP3). With both Standard and Advanced Training in DTTC, I am equipped to implement these interventions effectively, ensuring optimal outcomes for your child.

My approach ensures that your child receives the specialised support they need to make meaningful progress, boosting their confidence and communication skills.

How I Assess For Childhood Apraxia Of Speech

We know that accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective treatment for Childhood Apraxia of Speech. At The Speech Connection, I offer comprehensive assessments that are thorough, systematic, and designed to capture the nuanced symptoms of CAS. My diagnostic process includes the following components:

Diagnostic Evaluation Of Articulation & Phonology

I use the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (DEAP) to analyse your child’s ability to produce individual sounds and identify patterns of sound errors.

Dynamic Assessment Of Motor Speech Skill

This dynamic assessment focuses on how your child responds to cues and support during speech tasks. At The Speech Connection, I use this interactive approach to evaluate:

• Your child’s ability to imitate words and phrases of increasing complexity.

• The effectiveness of various types of cues (e.g., visual, tactile).

• The consistency of speech production across multiple trials.

This evaluation helps us differentiate CAS from other speech disorders, such as phonological disorders. Discriminative indicators of CAS such as disturbances in prosody are carefully assessed to provide the level of evidence for CAS, if present.

This method provides valuable insights into your child’s capacity to learn new motor speech patterns and helps inform their personalised therapy plan.

Connected Speech Sample

A connected speech sample allows us to analyse your child’s speech during natural conversation or storytelling. This assessment highlights:

• Patterns such as pauses, hesitations, and unusual intonation.

• Errors in sequencing sounds and syllables.

• The overall intelligibility of your child’s speech in everyday communication.

By understanding how CAS affects your child’s communication in real-life contexts, I can develop strategies that address their specific challenges.

Oro-Motor Assessment

An oro-motor assessment examines the physical movements required for speech. While CAS is not caused by muscle weakness, understanding your child’s oro-motor skills is essential for a complete diagnosis. My evaluation includes:

• Assessing the strength, coordination, and range of motion of the lips, tongue, and jaw.

• Observing how your child transitions between sounds, syllables, and words.

With my expertise and dedication, at The Speech Connection, your child with CAS can develop the skills they need to communicate effectively and confidently.

If you have any further questions regarding my services and how they could apply to your child’s needs, please contact me today.