Children with apraxia of speech may show a variety of signs and experience a range of symptoms. Some children may struggle to form sounds or pronounce words, which can lead to repeating themselves, pausing while speaking, feeling frustrated, or preferring to stay quiet. Children with this condition may also experiment less with different tones or rhythms, making speech sound more monotone or choppy.
If you think your child may be experiencing challenges related to apraxia of speech, we have good news: speech therapy can help. By working with a Speech-Language Pathologist, your child can gain strategies and tools to communicate more easily, helping them express themselves and socialize with boosted confidence.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Although the exact cause of childhood apraxia of speech is still being studied, we do have a clear understanding of what happens physiologically in children with this condition.
Apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder, means a child knows what they want to communicate, but when their brain sends instructions to the lips, tongue, and jaw on how to move to produce sounds, those messages are not delivered as intended. As a result, the child struggles to use oral motor skills (calculated movements of the lips, tongue, and jaw) to accurately form sounds, words, and sentences (articulation).
Because apraxia of speech can impact how a child explores, experiences, and engages with their world, seeking early support from a Speech-Language Pathologist is very important. While people of all ages with this condition can benefit from speech therapy, early intervention often leads to the most significant results.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Apraxia of Speech in Children
While every child develops communication skills at their own pace, certain ongoing behaviors or struggles may point to childhood apraxia of speech. Several common signs include:
- Not cooing or babbling during infancy
- Articulating the same word differently each time
- Moving their mouth around a bit to find the right movements to say certain words
- Pausing between sounds or syllables when speaking
- Struggling to imitate new sounds or words
- Facing challenges when trying to pronounce longer or more complex words
- Speaking with a flat or broken-up tone
- Being asked to repeat themselves around others frequently
- Preferring familiar short phrases rather than new or longer ones
These are, however, just the characteristics of apraxia of speech that you can notice from your vantage point. A child with apraxia of speech may also face a variety of symptoms — what they experience internally when trying to communicate. They may feel:
- Stuck when trying to form sounds or pronounce words
- Frustrated from knowing what to say but struggling to articulate it
- Tired after trying to talk for an extended period of time
- Overwhelmed in loud environments where they need to project their voice
- Discouraged when others struggle to understand them
- Shy or nervous when talking to unfamiliar people
How Speech Therapy Treats Childhood Apraxia of Speech
In pediatric speech therapy, Speech-Language Pathologists guide children through personalized, evidence-informed, and play-based treatment plans that strengthen oral motor control, thinking skills, and communication.
Speech-Language Pathologists also provide activities and guidance for home, helping children practice new skills and maintain progress between clinical sessions.
With this attentive and thoughtful approach, children with apraxia of speech can gain the tools and strategies they need to communicate more comfortably, clearly, and confidently.
Here are some effective therapeutic approaches used to support children with apraxia of speech:
- Motor Programming Approaches: Help children learn how to plan and coordinate mouth movements to produce clear speech. Methods include frequent practice of specific sounds, guided repetition, and helpful cues (visual, verbal, and tactile) that teach children how to move their lips, tongue, and jaw when facing challenges figuring out how to make certain movements.
- Linguistic Approaches: Help children strengthen their understanding of how sounds, words, and sentences flow together in language. Methods include fun, structured activities that focus on navigating tricky sounds, recognizing sound patterns, expanding vocabulary, and organizing words to support clearer communication.
- Combination Approaches: Combine both motor programming and linguistic approaches to reach specific therapy goals.
- Rhythmic Approaches: Help children use rhythm, stress, and melody while communicating, developing a smoother speech flow and more expressive tones. Methods include playful activities like singing, hand tapping, and pacing to help children build confidence and feel at ease when speaking.
How Children with Apraxia of Speech Benefit from Speech Therapy
As children with apraxia of speech work closely with our Speech-Language Pathologists, these are some improvements that can start showing up:
- Planning and organizing speech with less effort
- Controlling and coordinating mouth movements more smoothly for talking
- Speaking more clearly
- Verbally expressing thoughts and feelings more confidently
- Understanding language with more ease
- Using various tones and rhythms when speaking
- Expanding vocabulary
- Feeling more comfortable, confident, and independent overall
Contact Fluens for Treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech
At Fluens Children’s Therapy, we strive to help children build skills that foster confidence in communication and independence in social settings, enabling them to form relationships, engage with their communities, and navigate daily activities.
If you have any questions or concerns about childhood apraxia of speech, we invite you to connect with our Fluens team today. Call 253-212-3502 to speak with a specialist and receive expert guidance, or reach out online.
Our skilled and compassionate Speech-Language Pathologists are here for your child — ready to empower them as they learn to speak freely and confidently so they can thrive in life.