1. 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