childhood Apraxia of speech
Understanding and supporting motor speech differences
What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder in which children know what they want to say, but their brain has difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to produce speech. This can make speech sound inconsistent, effortful, or difficult to understand.
Children with CAS may:
Have limited spoken words or be difficult to understand
Say the same word differently each time
Struggle to move smoothly from one sound or syllable to another
Become frustrated when speech attempts are not understood
How can speech therapy help?
Our speech-language pathologists provide specialized, evidence-based therapy to support children with CAS by:
Using frequent, structured practice to improve speech motor planning
Breaking words into smaller, manageable parts
Providing visual, tactile, and auditory cues to support learning
Building accuracy, consistency, and confidence in speech production
Supporting alternative communication methods when needed to reduce frustration
Therapy is highly individualized and designed to help your child communicate as clearly and confidently as possible, while supporting positive communication experiences at home and in everyday life.