What do you need to know about apraxia of speech?
Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a neurological disorder that affects the brain pathways involved in producing speech. Learn more about its symptoms and treatments. Apraxia of speech (AOS)—also known as acquired apraxia of speech, verbal apraxia, or childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) when diagnosed in children—is a speech sound disorder.
What is the apracia of speech rating scale?
The apracia of speech rating scale: a tool for diagnosis and description of apraxia of speech. J Commun Disord, 51, 43-50. Wambaugh, J, Duffy, JR, McNeil, MR, Robin, DA, and Rogers, MA (2006). Treatment guidelines for acquired apraxia of speech: a synthesis and evaluation of the evidence.
How is AOS different from dysarthrias in speech?
It is differentiated from dysarthrias in that it is not due to problems in strength, speed, and coordination of the articulatory musculature. The primary behavioral characteristics of AOS are slowed speech, abnormal prosody, distortions of speech sounds such as sound substitutions and highly inconsistent errors.
Why are my speech muscles not working properly?
In CAS, the brain struggles to develop plans for speech movement. With this disorder, the speech muscles aren’t weak, but they don’t perform normally because the brain has difficulty directing or coordinating the movements.
What causes a child to have developmental apraxia?
CAS may be the result of brain (neurological) conditions or injury, such as a stroke, infections or traumatic brain injury. CAS may also occur as a symptom of a genetic disorder, syndrome or metabolic condition. For example, CAS occurs more frequently in children with galactosemia. CAS is sometimes referred to as developmental apraxia.
Why is speech so hard for people with dysarthria?
Making speech sounds is difficult because the speech muscles can’t move as far, as quickly or as strongly as normal. People with dysarthria may also have a hoarse, soft or even strained voice, or slurred or slow speech.