Advocacy through communication

Welcome to my blog, a dedicated space for advocacy for childhood apraxia of speech. Here, I aim to share information, foster understanding, and empower individuals affected by CAS.

Understanding Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Childhood apraxia of speech is a neurological speech motor disorder in which the connection between the brain and the muscles used for speech, such as the mouth, tongue, and lips, is disrupted, affecting the ability to program and plan the muscle movements required for proper articulation and speech production (Owens et.al, pg. 156). 

CAS often results in inconsistent speech errors, incorrect phrasal stress, and difficulty pronouncing longer words or phrases. 

The origin of CAS can be hard to identify. In the majority of cases, CAS may be caused congenitally, by a genetic disorder. But other times it can be acquired through a traumatic brain injury (ASHA, 2025). 

It is important to note that a child with CAS knows what they want to say, they just have a difficult time articulating it. Oftentimes, they are aware of the mistakes they are making. It is important to support our children with CAS, to encourage them to keep speaking so that they can find their voice. 

What is the difference between AOS and CAS?

While both are types of apraxia, there are crucial differences between apraxia of speech in adults and childhood apraxia of speech. The main difference is in their origin. For example, AOS is often acquired through a brain injury or trauma, whereas childhood apraxia of speech is usually congenital.

It is important to note this difference between AOS and CAS because the habilitation/rehabilitation processes can be different, depending on how the brain is functioning. Therapy will look different for an adult with AOS who has the muscle memory of articulation and lost their ability to speak fluently, as opposed to a child who was born with apraxia, and cannot speak fluently yet. Also, AOS tends to occur with other disorders like aphasia or dysarthria, whereas it is uncommon for CAS to occur with any other neurological speech disorder

Differences between CAS and other speech/language disorders

Childhood apraxia of speech is often roped into a category, along with other language disorders that are similar diagnostic neighbors to one another (Damico et al, pg.369), such as dysarthria, because they may share certain symptoms. However, there are stark differences that are important to note because different parts of the body are affected with each disorder, thus resulting in different etiology and treatment for each one. 

Dysarthria is different than CAS because it involves speech muscle weakness, spasticity, and discoordination (Owens et.al, pg.340). In CAS, the muscles are not weakened, but rather, the brain-body connection is impaired. Also, children with CAS tend to make inconsistent, randomized errors, whereas people with dysarthria usually have difficulty with pitch or loudness and often have consistent, imprecise articulation. 

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The importance of advocacy

Every child has different needs. For children with CAS, the same is true. It is important to educate our society on CAS to provide support for our children who may need treatment. 

There are many different types of treatment available for children with CAS. You can find more details on possible CAS treatments here. 

It is important to advocate for children with apraxia of speech so that they can overcome their disorder and, through lots of hard work, be able to speak fluently. A child's speech WILL improve with treatment (ASHA, 2025). But what makes a child, or anyone with AOS, more comfortable is a supportive, educated, multimodal community in which they are encouraged to learn and grow at their own pace. 

Through this blog, I aim to foster a community of informed and compassionate advocates.