Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Childhood Apraxia of Speech means your child knows exactly what they want to say, but their mouth has trouble making the movements to say it. It’s not about laziness or not trying — the message gets stuck on the way from the brain to the mouth.

CAS needs a specific kind of therapy: frequent, hands-on, and consistent practice of speech movements using principles of motor learning. Dara has years of experience helping children with apraxia build their sound repertoire and ability to sequence sounds.

We make it fun. Kids who come to CCL often look forward to seeing the “Speech Doctor,” and that engagement is a big part of why progress happens.

Frequently asked questions:

How is apraxia therapy different from regular speech therapy?

It focuses on the movement and sequencing of speech, with lots of repetition and specific cueing. Frequency matters — apraxia usually needs more regular sessions than other speech goals.

My child is hard to understand. Is it apraxia or something else?

There are several possible reasons. An assessment sorts out whether it’s apraxia, a speech sound delay, or something else, so therapy targets the right thing.

Can apraxia therapy be done online?

Yes, many families do online sessions across Alberta, and apraxia work can be very effective virtually with parent involvement.

Will my child grow out of it?

Apraxia doesn’t usually resolve on its own, but with the right therapy children make strong gains and learn tools to communicate clearly.