When Words Won’t Come: Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Communication remains essential beginning childhood because it creates links between people. Therefore, when a child has this difficulty, they stand apart from other students who learn to speak normally. In some cases, although the child is able to formulate clear thoughts about their intended message, their brain cannot create a verbal plan on how to express it. These kids are diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Hence, parents and caregivers looking for an effective “speech specialist near me,” who can help them with this problem is essential.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech? Speech Specialist Near Me
CAS is characterized by a motor-based speech problem. In this case, the muscles themselves are not damaged or weakened. However, the brain is unable to direct the correct muscle to use to create the sound needed. Thereby, making it difficult for children to speak with clarity. A reliable “speech specialist near me,” should understand that children who suffer from CAS understand language effectively despite the difficulties in expressing their thoughts.
The words they use when speaking vary unpredictably. For example, during conversations, these children can pause frequently and use limited speech sounds. This often causes the child to be difficult to understand and leads to the child being frustrated.
What Causes CAS? Speech Specialist Near Me
Multiple factors contribute to CAS, and no single cause explains the condition. Three of the most identified causes of CAS include brain injuries, genetic composition, and neurological conditions. It is also noteworthy that this condition does not show obvious triggers at times. Furthermore, the condition exists independently from other neurological conditions. However, it often co-occurs with autism, Down syndrome, and other disorders. Therefore, your skilled “speech specialist near me” should recognize CAS as an independent clinical issue requiring individualized therapeutic approaches.
Signs to Look Out For Speech Specialist Near Me
The early warning signs of CAS consist of several indicators, which includes delayed first words or babbling and trouble with combining sounds. Additionally, the child may exhibit inconsistent speech errors, issues with difficulty imitating speech and struggles to speak while groping their mouth. And because every child is different, identifying CAS in children requires the trained expertise of a “speech specialist near me.” to assess well and provide a personalized treatment plan.
How Speech Therapy Helps Speech Specialist Near Me
Speech therapy stands as the most beneficial medical approach to treat CAS. It should be personalized, consistent, and focused. The main purpose focuses on developing strong neurological connections between the brain and the mouth. Some of the therapeutic approaches include rhythmic repetition followed by structured patterns of practice. The “speech specialist near me,” must provide children with tools for proper mouth positioning. The production of sounds requires guidance through visual and tactile indications provided to clients.
The intensity of therapy is also possibly increased because motor planning functions are both compromised and restored. Hence, therapy sessions might be needed by children multiple times each week. However, with proper assistance, the journey to progress will become possible despite its duration.
Family Role, Techniques, and Progress in Therapy
The development of a child’s speech abilities is strongly correlational on how their parents support their learning. As parents look for the best “speech specialist near me,” home practice of language exercises, coupled with verbal attempt incentives, leads children to experience success with each advancement.
As for the therapists, therapy sessions usually involve one or a combination of some techniques such as, Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) which adjusts support based on how the child responds, PROMPT Therapy that uses touch cues to guide mouth movements, and repetitive drills that helps the brain learn speech patterns through practice. Moreover, to help children express themselves while building speech skills, augmentative tools such as picture boards or apps are used . However, since every learning is unique, the approach and type of intervention vary depending on how well the child progresses.
Speech Link, Your Best Result in Looking Up “Speech Specialist Near Me”
The speech disorder CAS requires treatment from experienced and effective professionals who can help patients get better. Here at Speech Link, we make sure every child brought to our care progresses well. We also ensure to include their family in the planning and treatment implementation to ensure that there is a strong supporting system at home, especially on days where there are no scheduled therapy sessions. Start your child’s speech therapy journey with us by scheduling your assessment and consultation.