Description

Childhood Apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare speech disorder. Children with this disorder have trouble controlling their lips, jaw and tongue to speak.

In the CAS , the brain has problems planning for speech movement. The brain is not able to direct the movements necessary for speech. The speech muscles aren't weak, but the muscles do not form words in the right way.

To speak properly, the brain has to make plans of what you say to the discourse of the muscles how to move the lips, jaw and tongue. The movements tend to be the accurate result of the sounds and spoken words at the right speed and rhythm. CAS affects this process.

CAS is often treated with speech therapy. During the speech, a speech-language pathologist teaches the child to practice the correct way to say the words, syllables, and phrases.

Symptoms

Children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) can have a variety of speech symptoms. The symptoms vary depending on the age of the child and the severity of the speech problems.

CAS can result in:

  • Babbling less or make less vocal sounds of what is common between the ages of 7 to 12 months.
  • Speaking first of the final words, usually after the age of 12 to 18 months of age.
  • The use of a limited number of consonants and vowels.
  • Often leaving the sounds of speech.
  • Using speech that is difficult to understand.

These symptoms are usually seen between the ages of 18 months and 2 years. The symptoms in this age group may indicate suspicion of CAS . The suspicion of CAS means that a child may have this speech disorder. The child's speech development should be observed to determine if the therapy should begin.

Children tend to produce more discourse between 2 and 4 years. The signs that may indicate CAS include:

  • Vowels and consonants distortions.
  • The pauses between the syllables or words.
  • Express errors, such as "cake," which sounds like "goodbye".

Many children with CAS have problems to be with her jaws, lips and tongue, to the correct position to make a sound. They may also have a difficult time moving smoothly to the next sound.

Many children with CAS also have language problems, such as the reduction of vocabulary or problems with the order of the words.

Some of the symptoms may be unique to children with CAS , which helps to make a diagnosis. However, some of the symptoms of CAS are also symptoms of other types of speech or language disorders. It is difficult to diagnose CAS if a child has only the symptoms that are found in both the CAS and in other disorders.

Some of the features that, sometimes called bookmarks, help to differentiate CAS from other types of speech disorders. Those associated with CAS include:

  • Difficulty to move gently a sound, syllable or word to another.
  • Groping movements of the jaw, lips or tongue to try to do the correct movement of the sounds of speech.
  • Vocal distortions, such as trying to use the correct vowel, but he says incorrectly.
  • The incorrect use of the stress in a word, such as saying "banana" as "BUH-nan-uh" instead of "ma-NAN-uh."
  • Using equal emphasis on every syllable, like saying "BUH-NAN-UH."
  • Separation of syllables, how to put a pause or the difference between the syllables.
  • Inconsistency, such as the manufacture of different errors when you try to say the same word a second time.
  • Having a hard time to imitate simple words.
  • Express errors, such as saying "down" instead of "the city".

Other disorders of speech, is sometimes confused with CAS

Some speech sound disorders is often confused with CAS because of some of the symptoms that overlap. These speech sound disorders include articulation disorders, disorders, phonological, and dysarthria.

A child with an articulation or phonological disorder have problems in learning how to make and use specific sounds. Unlike in the CAS , the child does not have problems of planning or coordination of the movements to speak. Articulation and phonological disorders are more common than CAS .

Articulation and phonological speech errors may include:

  • The substitution of sounds. The child might say "fum" in place of "thumb" "wabbit" instead of "rabbit" or "tup" instead of "cup".
  • Leaving out the final consonants. A child with CAS could say "duh" instead of "duck" or "eh" instead of "up".
  • To stop the stream of air. The child might say "tun" instead of "sun" or "doo" instead of "zoo".
  • The simplification of combinations of sounds. The child might say "ting" instead of "string" or "fog" in place of "frog".

Dysarthria is a speech disorder that occurs because of the speech muscles are weak. Make the sounds of speech, is difficult because the muscles of the speech can't move as far, as fast, or as strongly as I do during a typical speech. People with dysarthria may also have a hoarse, soft or even strained voice. Or they may have difficulty or slowness in speech.

Dysarthria is often easier to identify than CAS . However, when the dysarthria is caused by damage to areas of the brain that affects coordination, it can be difficult to determine the differences between CAS and dysarthria.

Causes

Childhood Apraxia of speech (CAS) has a number of possible causes. But often a cause cannot be determined. Usually, we don't see a problem in the brain of a child with CAS .

However, CAS can be the result of conditions or brain injuries. These can include stroke, infections or traumatic brain injuries.

CAS can also occur as a symptom of a genetic disorder, syndrome or metabolic condition.

CAS is sometimes referred to as the development of apraxia. But children with CAS do not make the typical development sound of errors and does not grow out of the CAS . This is unlike the children with delayed speech or developmental disorders that tend to follow the patterns of speech, and the sounds of development, but at a slower pace than usual.

Risk factors

The changes in the gene FOXP2 gene appear to increase the risk of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and other speech and language disorders. The FOXP2 gene may be involved in the way in which certain nerves and in the brain to develop. Researchers continue to study how changes in the FOXP2 gene may affect the motor coordination and speech and language processing in the brain. Other genes that may also affect the engine's development of speech.

Complications

Many children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) has other problems that affect their ability to communicate. These problems are not due to the CAS , but that can be seen along with CAS .

Symptoms or problems that are often present along with CAS include:

  • Language delay. This may include difficulty in understanding the language, a reduced vocabulary, or inability to use correct grammar at the time of putting the words together in a phrase or sentence.
  • Delays in intellectual and motor development, and problems with reading, spelling and writing.
  • Problems with gross and fine motor skills of movement or coordination.
  • Problems with the use of communication in social interactions.

Prevention

The diagnosis and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech at an early stage can reduce the risk of long-term persistence of the problem. If your child has problems with speech, is a speech-language pathologist to assess your child as soon as you notice any problems with speech.

Diagnosis

To evaluate the condition of your child, a speech-language pathologist review your child's symptoms and medical history. The speech-language pathologist also performs an examination of the muscles used for speech, and see how your child produces speech sounds, words and phrases.

Your child's speech-language pathologist can also assess your child's language skills, including vocabulary, sentence structure and of the ability to understand speech.

Diagnosis of CAS is not based on a single test or observation. A diagnosis is made based on the pattern of the problems that are seen. The specific tests done during the evaluation depend on the child's age, ability to cooperate, and the severity of the problem of speech.

Sometimes it can be difficult to diagnose CAS , especially when the child speaks very little, or have trouble interacting with the speech-language pathologist.

Even so, it is important to identify if your child shows symptoms of CAS because CAS is treated differently from other speech disorders. Your child's speech-language pathologist may be able to determine the best treatment approach for your child, even if the diagnosis is not certain at first.

Tests may include:

  • Hearing tests. Your doctor may order tests of hearing to determine if the hearing problems could be contributing to your child's speech problems.
  • Oral-motor evaluación.Su child speech-language pathologist will examine your child's lips, tongue, jaw and palate of the structural problems, such as tongue-tie or a cleft palate. The speech-language pathologist will also look for other problems, such as low muscle tone. Low muscle tone in general, it is not associated withCAS, but it can be a sign of other conditions. Your child's speech-language pathologist will see how your child moves their lips, tongue and jaw in activities such as blowing, smiling and kissing.
  • Speech evaluation.The ability of your child to make sounds, words, and phrases can be observed during the game play or other activities. Your child can be asked to name the pictures. This allows the speech-language pathologist to check to see if your child has problems to make specific sounds or talk about certain words or syllables. Your child's speech-language pathologist can also assess your child's coordination and fluidity of movement in speech. You can ask your child to repeat syllables such as "pa-ta-ka", or saying words such as "buttercup." If your child can speak sentences, the speech-language pathologist observes your child of the melody and rhythm of speech. The rhythm and the melody is heard in the way in which your child puts stress on syllables and words. Your child's speech-language pathologist can help your child by providing cues, such as saying the word or the sound more slowly, or to provide key touch to the face.

Oral-motor assessment. Your child's speech-language pathologist will examine your child's lips, tongue, jaw and palate of the structural problems, such as tongue-tie or a cleft palate. The speech-language pathologist will also look for other problems, such as low muscle tone. Low muscle tone in general, is not associated with CAS , but can be a sign of other conditions.

Your child's speech-language pathologist will see how your child moves their lips, tongue and jaw in activities such as blowing, smiling and kissing.

Speech evaluation. The ability of your child to make sounds, words, and phrases can be observed during the game play or other activities.

Your child can be asked to name the pictures. This allows the speech-language pathologist to check to see if your child has problems to make specific sounds or talk about certain words or syllables.

Your child's speech-language pathologist can also assess your child's coordination and fluidity of movement in speech. You can ask your child to repeat syllables such as "pa-ta-ka", or saying words such as "buttercup."

If your child can speak sentences, the speech-language pathologist observes your child of the melody and rhythm of speech. The rhythm and the melody is heard in the way in which your child puts stress on syllables and words.

Your child's speech-language pathologist can help your child by providing cues, such as saying the word or the sound more slowly, or to provide key touch to the face.

A trial of speech therapy in order to observe how your child responds to CAS treatment can help the speech-language pathologist to confirm CAS .

Treatment

Children don't outgrow childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), but speech therapy can help you make the most progress. Speech-language pathologists can try the CAS with many of the therapies.

Speech therapy

Your child's speech-language pathologist typically provides the therapy that focuses on the practice of syllables, words and sentences.

Depending on the magnitude of the speech problems, your child may need speech therapy 3 to 5 times a week. As your child grows, the number of weekly sessions of therapy of language can be reduced.

Children with CAS usually benefit from individual therapy. One-on-one therapy allows your child to have more time for the practice of speech in each session.

It is important that children with CAS to get a lot of practice saying words and phrases for each speech therapy session. It takes time and practice to learn how to say words and phrases in the correct way.

Because children with CAS have problems in the planning of the movements, speech, speech therapy, often focused the attention of your child the sound and the feeling of speech movements.

Speech-language pathologists can use different types of signals in speech therapy. For example, the speech-language pathologist may ask your child to listen with attention. Your child may also ask to see the speech-language pathologist's mouth form the word or phrase.

Your child's speech-language pathologist you can also touch the face of your child when your child takes certain sounds or syllables. For example, a speech-language pathologist can help around your child's lips to say "oo".

There is not a single speech therapy approach has proven to be more effective for the treatment of CAS . But some of the most important principles of speech therapy for CAS include:

  • Speech exercises. Your child's speech-language therapist may ask your child to say words or phrases many times during a therapy session.
  • The sound and the motion of the exercises. Your child may be asked to listen to the speech-language pathologist and to see the speech-language pathologist mouth while speaking a word or phrase. Watching the speech-language pathologist of the mouth, your child sees the movements that go along with the sounds.
  • The practice of English. It is likely that your child practice of syllables, words, or phrases, in place of sounds isolated. Children with CAS need to practice to make the movements from one sound to another.
  • Vocal practice. Children with CAS tend to distort the sounds of the vowels. The speech-language pathologist can choose the words for your child to practice that contain the vowels in different types of syllables. For example, you can ask your child to say "hello", "my" and "chop". Or you can ask your child to say, "out", "down" and "home".
  • Pace of learning. Depending on the severity of your child with speech disorder, the speech-language pathologist may use a small set of practice words at the beginning. The number of words in practice is likely to increase gradually as your child improves.

Speech practice at home

The address is a very important practice. Your child's speech-language pathologist can encourage you to be involved in your child's speech practice at home.

The speech-language pathologist can give words and phrases to practice with your child at home. Each practice session can be short, such as five minutes of duration. You could practice with your child twice a day.

Children also need to practice the words and phrases in real-life situations. Create situations for your child to say the word or phrase. For example, ask your child to say "Hello, Mom" every time that mom enters a room. This makes it easy for your child to say the practice of the words automatically.

The alternative methods of communication

If your child can't communicate effectively through the written word, other methods of communication may be useful.

Other methods may include the use of sign language or natural gestures, such as pointing, or pretending to eat or drink. For example, your child could use signs to ask for a cookie. Sometimes electronic devices such as tablets may be useful in the communication.

It is often important to use alternative methods of communication early. You can also help your child be less frustrated when trying to communicate. It could also help your child develop language skills, such as vocabulary and the ability to put words together in sentences.

Therapies for coexisting problems

Many children with CAS also have delays in language development. They may need therapy to deal with the problems of language.

Children with CAS have problems with gross and fine motor movement in your arms or legs may need physical or occupational therapy.

If a child with CAS have another medical condition, treatment of that condition may be important to improve the child's speech.

Treatments that are not useful for CAS

Some treatments are not helpful in improving the speech of children with CAS . For example, there is no evidence that exercises to strengthen the muscles of the speech will help to improve speech in children with CAS .

Lifestyle and home remedies

You and your family can work with their child at home. Practice at home, in addition to your child's speech therapy sessions, you can help your child's progress.

Encourage and support your child as your child practices of speech and language. Your child is likely to feel good about the improvements in speaking with their support.

To be aware of to give your son remains of the therapy, as well. If your child has physical or occupational therapy, along with speech therapy, a schedule of the sessions so that your child does not tire too.

Coping and support

It can be hard to have a child that has trouble communicating. There are a number of support groups for parents of children with childhood apraxia of speech. The support groups can offer a place for you to find people who understand what you're going through and can share similar experiences.

To learn about support groups in your area, please refer to the Apraxia Kids website.

Preparing for your appointment

Your child is likely to start by seeing a doctor trained in the general care of the health and treatment of children, known as a pediatrician. Or your child see a doctor trained in the treatment of children with neurological conditions, known as a pediatric neurologist or a physician who specializes in disorders of the development experienced by the children, known as a developmental pediatrician. It is likely that your child may be referred to a specialist in speech and language conditions, known as a speech-language pathologist.

Because the events have a limited time and there's not much to talk about, it is a good idea to be well prepared for your child's appointment. Here's some information to help you and your child prepare and get a good idea of what to expect.

What you can do

  • Make a note of the symptoms your child is experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Bring a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you are taking your child.
  • Write questions to ask your child's health care team, and speech-language pathologist.
  • Bring a copy of a recent progress report. If your child has already been seen by a speech-language pathologist, bring your child's individual education plan if you have one.

Its time for the appointment is limited. Prepare a list of questions ahead of time to help make the most of your time. For childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), some basic questions to ask the speech-language pathologist include:

  • Do you have my son CAS , or any other speech or language problems?
  • How is CAS no different from other types of speech disorders?
  • Is my child's condition is going to improve?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • What can I do at home to help my child?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take my house? What sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, ask questions during your appointment anytime you don't understand something.

What to expect from your child's speech-language pathologist

Your child's speech-language pathologist is likely to ask a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may allow more time to talk about your child's diagnosis and recommended treatment. Your child's speech-language pathologist may ask:

  • When was the first you have concerns about your child's speech development?
  • Does your child babble? For example, does your child produce cooing sounds, and then produce syllables, such as "ba-ba-ba" or "da-da-da"? If so, when did that start?
  • At what age was your child's first word?
  • At what age did your child's vocabulary include five words that are used frequently?
  • How many words does your child currently have in your vocabulary that would be understandable to the majority of people?
  • In what other ways does your child communicate? For example, does your child point gestures, signs or act?
  • Have someone in your family has had speech or language problems?
  • Has your child had ear infections? About how many of the infections of the ear has your child had?
  • When your child's hearing tested? Was the hearing loss detected?
The symptoms and treatment of apraxia of speech