Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
in West Bloomfield, MI
Is your child struggling to make sounds to express needs or thoughts? Or moving their mouth in search of words before talking? They may be experiencing childhood apraxia of speech.
At Gigi’s Kids Speech & Language Therapy, we can help your child alleviate their struggles with apraxia of speech. With an experienced and compassionate therapist, your child will feel empowered and celebrated as they make progress on their unique timeline toward improved communication skills.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech is an uncommon speech disorder, not a cognitive disorder, where the brain sends messages to the mouth for communication, but the muscles do not receive the information in a way that leads to accurate sounds for clear speech. For example, a child with apraxia of speech will know what they want to express, but their mouth will not cooperate with their urge to express these thoughts or needs.
If your child shows signs of apraxia of speech, you should schedule an appointment with a speech and language therapist, especially during early childhood development. Early treatment of this disorder can create the most impactful results. However, if your child is older, they will still benefit from therapy. It is essential to seek care for your child, regardless of age, to improve their communication skills. At Gigi’s Kids, our team of expert therapists can help your child achieve long-term results.
Common Signs of Childhood Apraxia of Speech
The sooner you notice signs of childhood apraxia of speech, the better. While treatments for the condition can be effective at any age, early detection can lead to the most significant results from treatment. Here are some common characteristics of apraxia of speech in a child:
- Makes little to no babbling or cooing sounds as a baby
- Struggles putting sounds together to form words and sentences
- Avoids or distorts certain sounds while talking
- Has a flat tone or choppy rhythm while communicating
- Takes long pauses while speaking
- Expresses frustration when trying to talk or be understood
- Tries saying words several times before clearly pronouncing them
- Moves mouth around a few times in search of words before speaking
How Speech & Language Therapy Helps Children with Apraxia of Speech
At Gigi’s Kids, we strive to ensure your child feels seen, understood, and safe as they navigate and overcome their challenges with apraxia of speech. Because apraxia of speech can lead to complex emotions, specifically frustration, we collaborate with your child in a supportive environment through compassion and patience.
To meet your child wherever they are on their journey with apraxia of speech, we perform thorough non-intimidating assessments and use evidence-based techniques to develop an engaging, personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s unique needs. With time, patience, and commitment, we will stand by you and your child as a team, helping your child learn long-term strategies to improve their communication skills and thrive in life.
Curious if Your Child Is Meeting Their Developmental Milestones?
Get clear, friendly answers with our free 15-minute developmental assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is childhood apraxia of speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a condition that affects how your child’s brain plans and coordinates the movements needed for speech. Children with CAS know what they want to say, but their brain has difficulty sending the right messages to the muscles used for speech.
What are common signs of apraxia of speech in young children?
Signs may include less babbling than expected as a baby, making several attempts to say the same word, long pauses while speaking, or moving the mouth around in search of the right sounds.
Does childhood apraxia of speech affect a child's understanding?
No. Childhood apraxia of speech is not a cognitive disorder. Children with apraxia fully understand language and know what they want to say, but have difficulty coordinating the movements needed to speak clearly.
How does speech therapy help children who experience apraxia?
Speech therapists start with a gentle, thorough assessment, then use evidence-based techniques and personalized, play-based activities to help the brain and mouth muscles work together as a team, so children can communicate more clearly.
Why is early intervention important for childhood apraxia?
Speech therapy can be beneficial at any age, but starting early gives children more time to build the speech skills they need for clear communication.
Get Started at Gigi’s Kids Today
Don’t wait another day to give your child the support they need to communicate confidently. Our team of expert therapists is ready to work with your family to help your child thrive. Give us a call today at (248) 735-8080 to schedule an evaluation, and let’s work together to support your child’s speech and language skills.