Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder, characterized by impaired planning or programming of speech movements, as a result of damage in the brain. A person with AOS frequently has difficulty sequencing sounds in words or sentences. A person with AOS may not usually exhibit any problems with eating and swallowing.

Common causes

Stroke Brain tumor Head injury Degenerative neurological diseases

Signs and symptoms

A person with AOS may show one or more of the following features during speech production:

Inaccurate articulation, with an inconsistent consonant or vowel distortions

Difficulty in imitating speech sounds

Effortful trial-and-error groping during speech production

A slow rate of speech, especially on longer words

Somewhat preserved ability to produce "automatic speech" such as counting, reciting previously memorized pieces

Risk factors 

The most common cause of AOS is stroke. The risk factors for stroke include

High blood pressure Diabetes mellitus Cigarette smoking Aging Heart diseases Previous stroke disease or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Diagnosis

Your doctor may refer you to a Speech therapist. The speech therapist will determine the nature and severity of any speech difficulties. Therapists may ask the person to carry out volitional or spontaneous speech tasks, such as counting, saying words, and non-speech tasks, such as blowing tongue rotation movement.

Treatment 

Treatment depends on the cause, type, and severity of the symptoms. The treatment includes customized therapy for every individual which focuses on one’s strengths and weaknesses

Improving the clarity of speech with speech drills based on modeling. Using a sing-song method to reduce groping during speech production. Increasing rate of speech. Teaching caregivers and family members strategies to facilitate communication with the person with apraxia of speech.

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.  Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other health professionals for any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.