Childhood apraxia of speech
Last updated
Childhood apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder in which a child has trouble planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech.
Topic: Disability categories and conditions
In plain terms
The muscles themselves are not weak; the challenge is the brain's plan for moving the lips, jaw and tongue in sequence. Children with apraxia may say a word clearly once and not the next time, struggle more with longer words, and show groping movements. Progress usually needs frequent, intensive practice focused on movement sequences.
How it shows up in an IEP
Students usually qualify under speech or language impairment. Goals often target accurate syllable shapes or words in functional vocabulary, and many students use AAC alongside speech so they can communicate fully while speech develops.
Example
A 5-year-old with apraxia has a goal to produce 10 functional two-syllable words accurately during play, and uses a picture-based device for everything else.
Related terms
- Motor planning (praxis)Motor planning, or praxis, is the ability to think of, plan and carry out a new or unfamiliar sequence of movements.
- ArticulationArticulation is the physical production of speech sounds using the lips, tongue, teeth, jaw and palate.
- IntelligibilityIntelligibility is how much of a person's speech a listener can understand, often given as a percent of words understood.
- AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)AAC is any way of communicating that supplements or replaces speech, such as signs, picture boards or speech-generating devices.
- Speech or language impairmentSpeech or language impairment is an IDEA category for communication disorders, such as stuttering or language disorders, that affect learning.
On IEP Atlas
- Articulation IEP goals
- AAC & Augmentative Communication IEP goals
- IEP goals for childhood apraxia of speech
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