What are the Levels of Childhood Apraxia of Speech Severity? | The Mayo Clinic

Summary

This video explores childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), a motor speech disorder characterized by difficulty in planning and programming movement. It highlights the variation in severity among children, with some facing mild challenges and others struggling severely with speech production. The video includes examples of children during evaluations, showcasing their speech inconsistencies, groping for sounds, and deliberate attempts to form words. It emphasizes the importance of therapy in improving movement accuracy and reducing the concentration needed for speech. The video also differentiates CAS from other speech disorders by focusing on motor planning issues.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder, primarily affecting the planning and programming of speech movements.
• 🗣️ CAS differs from other speech disorders because it specifically involves movement parameters for speech production.
• 👶 Children with CAS often have other associated language or speech difficulties, such as language learning problems or phonological disorders.
• 🏋️ Treatment focuses on helping children acquire more accurate speech movements, improving coordination over time.
• 📉 The severity of CAS varies; some children have severe difficulty with speech movement, while others have more moderate or mild challenges.
• 🔄 Children with CAS may display inconsistent speech errors, especially when repeating the same word multiple times.
• 👀 Visual cues, like watching a clinician’s face, can help children with CAS improve their speech accuracy.
• 🚶 As movement accuracy becomes more automatic with practice, children require less concentration to speak correctly.
• 🔄 Some children with CAS also exhibit typical developmental sound errors, such as substituting certain sounds, though these are not related to movement planning issues.
• 🧑‍⚕️ CAS involves both motoric speech issues and developmental phonological errors, requiring comprehensive assessment and tailored therapy approaches.

Q & A

What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) primarily characterized by?

CAS is primarily characterized by difficulties in planning and programming the movements required for speech.

How does CAS differ from other speech disorders?

CAS differs from other speech disorders because it involves specifying movement parameters for speech, rather than issues with language or phonological rules.

Why is it important to consider other aspects of language development in children with CAS?

It's important because most children with CAS also have other language disorders, which may include problems with learning the rule-governed system of sounds for their language.

What is the main focus of treatment for children with CAS?

The main focus of treatment is to help the child acquire more accurate movement for speech.

How do the severity levels of CAS vary among children?

Severity levels vary widely; some children have very severe difficulties and a hard time learning to talk, while others have moderate to mild motor difficulties and may require less intensive therapy.

What does the term 'groping for sound positions' mean in the context of CAS?

It refers to the visible effort and struggle some children with CAS show when trying to position their mouth correctly to produce sounds.

What are some characteristics of CAS observed in the examples provided in the transcript?

Characteristics include inaccurate movements resulting in sound distortions, inconsistency over repeated tries at the same word, and slower, more deliberate speech.

What is the difference between developmental sound errors and the errors caused by CAS?

Developmental sound errors, like substituting 't' for 'k' or 'b' for 'g,' are consistent and not related to movement planning, while CAS errors often involve sound distortions and variability in repeated attempts.

How does looking at the clinician's face help a child with CAS during speech tasks?

Looking at the clinician's face helps some children with CAS improve their accuracy by providing visual cues for correct mouth movements.

Why might a child with CAS speak more slowly and deliberately during therapy?

A child might speak more slowly and deliberately to concentrate on making accurate movements, which becomes more automatic with continued practice.