Understanding Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Parent's Guide
One always has a steep learning curve as a parent but sometimes the learning can be an obstacle course to navigate.
If you’ve found this page because someone has mentioned childhood apraxia of speech in relation to your little one, and you’re worried about how he or she is communicating… then right now, I’m guessing that you feel all excited and nervous at the same time. That's completely normal.
So, let’s unpack what childhood apraxia of speech really is and what you should watch out for — and most importantly, what you can do about it.
Because here’s the thing: Knowledge is power, and the sooner you can get a grip on what’s going down, the better you’ll be able to back your child up.
What Exactly Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Imagine this: in your child’s brain, the words it wants to say are all right there. But between the brain thinking that thought and the mouth turning it into words, the wires sort of get crossed. That's childhood apraxia of speech.
It’s not that kids with apraxia don’t want to communicate—of course they do. Their brain doesn’t work together well enough to organize the complex movements required for clear speech. That’s a little like having all the right notes for a tune but not being able to make your fingers play them in the correct order.
Unlike other speech impairments, the symptoms of childhood apraxia are inconsistent. One day, your child may pronounce “mummy” perfectly well, the next he can barely get to grips with it.
This back-and-forth can be frustrating for you and your kiddo, which is why knowing what to expect from the therapy part of speech therapy can be an incredibly helpful tool for the families who experience it.
Spotting the Signs: What Should You Look Out For?
Every child develops at their own pace—we've all heard that before. But there are some specific red flags that might indicate childhood apraxia of speech rather than typical speech development variations.
Early warning signs in toddlers:
Very limited babbling as babies (or none at all)
Late first words, often appearing after 15 months
Small vocabulary compared to peers
Difficulty moving from simple sounds to more complex words
Seeming to "lose" words they previously could say
Signs in older children:
Inconsistent speech errors that seem to change each time they attempt the same word
Particular difficulty with longer words or sentences
Groping movements with their mouth when trying to speak, as if they're searching for the right position
Better understanding than expression—they clearly comprehend what you're saying but can't respond with the same clarity
Unusual stress patterns in their speech
Here's something that might surprise you: children with apraxia often develop quite sophisticated ways to communicate without words. They might become excellent at gestures, pointing, or even developing their own little sign system. While this shows their cleverness and determination to communicate, it can also be a sign that verbal communication is particularly challenging for them.
Getting an Apraxia of Speech Diagnosis
If you're checking off some of these boxes for your child, you're likely wondering: what happens now? The good news is that seeking clarity doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with experienced professionals who know what warning signs to look for.
What sets us apart from other area speech therapy folks? At CommuniKids Speech, our comprehensive evaluations are much more than simply listening to your child talk. We consider the whole package — how they ratchet those jaws, what their grasp of language is, and then there’s their genius at circumvention.
During an apraxia of speech diagnosis evaluation, our Speech Pathologists will typically:
Watch how your child's mouth moves when they are talking and not talking
Pay close attention to patterns of speech and discrepancies
Compare assessment of understanding vs. expression from your student
Consider the way they order sounds and syllables
Take note of their ALL communication attempts, even nonverbal ones and other strategies as well
Our way forward at CommuniKids is different because we are not just about the technical. We look at your child as a whole person — their personality, their interests, their strengths. What this allows us to do is create a far more accurate picture and more importantly, therapy that actually engages your child.
The Reality About Speech Apraxia Treatment
Here's what every parent needs to know: childhood apraxia of speech is absolutely treatable, but it requires patience, consistency, and the right approach. Think marathon, not sprint.
Speech apraxia treatment works best when it's intensive and targeted. This means working with professionals who understand how to make every interaction count.
Our speech therapists at CommuniKids use evidence-based approaches specifically designed for apraxia:
Motor-Based Approaches
These focus on helping your child's brain and mouth work together more effectively. We're literally helping them build those neural pathways that got a bit mixed up.
Multi-Sensory Techniques
We might use visual cues, touch, or even technology to help your child feel and see what their mouth should be doing. Some children respond brilliantly to watching themselves in mirrors or feeling the vibrations of different sounds.
Functional Communication Training
While we're working on speech clarity, we never want your child to stop communicating. Sometimes this means incorporating sign language, picture systems, or even apps and devices that can speak for them.
Our Collaborative Approach
The collaborative approach we take at CommuniKids means you're not just dropping your child off for therapy—you're part of the team.
We'll teach you techniques you can use at home, help you understand what your child is working on, and make sure everyone in your child's life is on the same page.
What Makes CommuniKids Different in Treating Apraxia?
If you’re dealing with something as specific as childhood apraxia of speech, you want to have people who really get it. At our practice, we have a great deal of experience with apraxia and know first-hand the difference that the right approach can make.
Our services as a Jolimont and Victoria Park clinic extend to telehealth appointments and school visits. We are an NDIS Registered Provider so we do see children on funding, however, we believe all children deserve quality speech pathology services irrespective of funding.
Our autism evaluation services also are highly applicable here, as apraxia and autism can co-occur. Professionals who are familiar with both conditions can result in a more accurate assessment and also better treatment.
Supporting Your Child at Home
Professional therapy is crucial, but the magic really happens in everyday moments at home. The good news? You don't need to become a speech therapist yourself. You just need to be an encouraging, patient parent who creates lots of opportunities for communication.
Make Communication Pressure-Free
If your child is struggling with a word, resist the urge to make them "say it properly" before you respond to their need. Remember, they're already trying their hardest.
Celebrate Attempts, Not Just Success
When your child makes any attempt to communicate verbally, acknowledge it enthusiastically. "I heard you trying to say 'water'!" This builds confidence and encourages more attempts.
Use Their Interests
If your child is obsessed with dinosaurs, cars, or Bluey, incorporate these interests into communication practice. It's much easier to work on speech when you're talking about something you love. Following your child's lead is one of the most powerful strategies you can use.
Read Together Daily
Books provide natural opportunities for repetitive language, and the pressure is off because you're just enjoying a story together.
Create Predictable Routines
Children with apraxia often do better when they know what to expect. Meal times, bath time, and bedtime routines provide natural opportunities for practising familiar words and phrases.
The Social Side of Things
Now, we need to talk about the one thing that’s sure to keep most of us parents awake at night: how are other kids going to respond to your child’s difference in speech? It's a legitimate concern.
Here’s what we know: Children, in general, are far more accepting than adults give them credit for. They're curious rather than judgmental.
In our social skills program at CommuniKids we give children strategies to help them navigate these encounters and learn how to interact with their peers and advocate for themselves. We partner with schools to raise awareness for apraxia; we educate teachers and classmates, because education equals inclusion.
Early Intervention: Why Time Matters
The one thing we wish every parent knew, is this: early intervention makes an incredible impact with childhood apraxia of speech.
According to the research center at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, children with hearing loss who get early intervention services are far more likely to achieve higher levels of education and employment.
Because when the brain of a young child is developing, it’s at its most malleable, and therapy can be especially effective.
That’s not to suggest that if your child is diagnosed when she’s older, you should freak out. It’s never too late to get better. But if you’re concerned, the earlier you seek an assessment, the better for your child.
At CommuniKids, we see children between under 12 months and 18 years of age, right where they are developmentally.
Looking Forward: What to Expect
There is no straight line, or even necessarily a curve, to recovery from childhood apraxia of speech. There will be those jaw dropping, make you want to cry happy tears, breakthrough moments and there will also be days where it feels as if you’re running head first into a brick wall. Both are natural parts of the process.
Many, in fact the majority of children with apraxia, especially if they receive the right kind of therapy, will attain functional speech. Some may never be indistinguishable from their peers in their speech patterns, while others may achieve speech that is just like anyone else’s. Every child's path is different.
The most important thing is that your child learns to express himself confidently and effectively. Sometimes that’s through verbal language, sometimes it’s through some mixing of language and communication, and for a lot of kids, it’s technology that accommodates their ways of communicating.
Taking the Next Step
The child who you suspect has childhood apraxia of speech, or whom you already have received a diagnosis for and are seeking out support is not alone (and neither are you). Every day we at CommuniKids journey alongside families traveling this road.
The thing to do right this minute is to trust your instincts. And no one knows your child better than you. If you worry about their verbal progress, those concerns are real and may merit further examination.
Let our full evaluations give you peace of mind about what is going on with your child's speech and language development. Then we can talk and put together a plan that suits the needs of your family, and helps your child become the confident communicator he or she was born to be.
Your child wants to speak with the world. Sometimes they just need a little encouragement speaking up. That’s precisely what we’re here for.
Ready to take the next step? Contact CommuniKids Speech today to learn how our skilled professionals can help your children with their communication skills. Find out more about how you can utilize our speech therapy and begin your child on the road to clear communication. Because all children deserve to be heard.