Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Treatment Types What is Apraxia? A motor speech disorder where neurological impairments affect the motor programming and planning, neuromuscular control, or execution of speech Statistics: Occurs in every 1-2 children per 1,000 Affects every 3 boys to 1 girl Signs of Apraxia Inconsistent errors on consonants and vowels Lengthened and disrupted coarticulatory transitions between sounds Inappropriate prosody The Anatomy: Treatment Types: Motor-Programming Approach Employs motor learning principles and involves frequent and intensive practice of targeted speech sounds Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment: practice in producing multisyllabic words, to improve accuracy and fluent transitioning of speech sounds and controlled syllable stress Linguistic Approach Approaches apraxia as a language learning disorder Integrated Phonological Awareness: promotes speech production, phonological awareness and letter sound knowledge Sensory Cueing Approach Provides external cues and gestures which involves the child’s senses Integral Stimulation: SLP models the sound or word, then the child imitates the SLP Rhythmic Approach Uses intonation patterns to improve functional speech production Melodic Intonation Therapy: uses singing, rhythmic speech and hand tapping, and training with common phrases