Apraxia Spotlight: What Parents Should Know About Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
When parents first hear the words Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), it can feel confusing and even a little scary. The good news is that progress is possible—and understanding how apraxia therapy works can make the path forward much clearer.
💬 What Is CAS?
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a neurological motor-planning disorder that affects a child’s ability to coordinate the precise movements needed for speech. The child knows what they want to say, but the brain has difficulty sending accurate movement messages to the lips, tongue, and jaw.
CAS is not caused by muscle weakness or laziness—it’s a coordination challenge. Children with CAS often show inconsistent sound errors, groping movements, and increased difficulty with longer words or phrases.
🧠 How CAS Is Diagnosed
A diagnosis of CAS is made by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with advanced training in motor-speech disorders. Evaluation typically includes:
- Observation of oral-motor sequencing and prosody (the rhythm and melody of speech)
- Repeated syllable and word tasks to check for consistency
- Assessment of imitation skills and stimulability
- Review of overall language and motor development
Because CAS can overlap with other speech or language disorders, an experienced SLP is essential for accurate identification and individualized treatment planning.
🗝️ What You’ll See in Apraxia Therapy
Apraxia therapy is movement-based rather than sound-based—more like teaching the brain a new physical skill than memorizing words.
Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC)
Developed by Dr. Edythe Strand, DTTC helps children achieve accurate speech movements through carefully adjusted cues.
- Dynamic: The SLP changes support in real time as accuracy improves.
- Temporal: The timing between model and imitation gradually increases.
- Tactile: Touch or gestural cues guide correct mouth movements.
Therapy often starts with simultaneous production (“watch me, listen to me, say it with me”) and fades support step-by-step until the child says it independently.
High-Repetition Practice & Motor-Learning Principles
Like any motor skill—dance, piano, athletics—improvement comes from frequent, accurate practice. Sessions are short, focused, and filled with repetitions plus specific feedback after each attempt.
Backward and Forward Chaining
Longer words are broken into smaller, achievable parts and practiced separately before blending them together.
Direct, Specific Feedback
Children learn fastest when feedback is clear and meaningful:
“You kept your lips together that time—perfect!”
“That one didn’t sound quite right. Let’s try it slower.”
Generic praise (“good job”) doesn’t teach the motor plan; specific guidance does.
Ending on Success
CAS therapy is intense work. Many sessions focus on one or two meaningful target words, and it’s vital to finish strong:
“Even if we’ve spent twenty minutes refining one tough word, I make sure the child leaves thinking, I did it. Confidence fuels progress.”
💃 Learning to Talk Is Like Learning to Dance
If you’ve ever taken a salsa class, imagine being shown a professional routine and told you’ll perform it that same day. You’d need time, feedback, and repetition before your movements flowed naturally.
Apraxia therapy works the same way. We begin with what the child can already do, break the steps down, link them together, and gradually build fluency. At first, it’s awkward and effortful—but with the right guidance, the movements connect.
Eventually, speech becomes rhythm; words become phrases; and communication becomes its own beautiful dance.
🌈 The Power of Meaningful Practice
The words chosen in therapy aren’t random—they’re personal and purposeful. “Mama,” “ball,” or a favorite toy’s name: emotionally charged targets build motivation and strengthen learning.
Each accurate production reinforces the brain’s motor map. Over time, consistency replaces frustration, and spontaneous speech begins to flow naturally.
🧭 Trusted Resources
- Apraxia Kids – Comprehensive parent resources, research updates, and a national therapist directory.
- Bjorem Speech Sound Cues – A visual cueing system by Jennie Bjorem that helps children connect speech sounds to imagery and movement.
- CloudSpeech Apraxia Expertise – Evidence-based, compassionate therapy integrating motor-learning principles, family collaboration, and bilingual support.
💖 Final Thoughts
Every child’s voice matters. With expert guidance, patient practice, and genuine belief, children with apraxia can learn to speak clearly and confidently.
At CloudSpeech, we combine science, artistry, and heart—turning practice into progress, and progress into joy.
📅 Ready to Get Started?
Every child deserves expert support and a clear path forward. Schedule a consultation with Christina Burnham, M.S., CCC-SLP, and discover how evidence-based apraxia therapy can help your child find their voice.