Verbal Dyspraxia

Disclaimer: This information sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

What is it?

Dyspraxia is a neurological disorder effecting the production of speech. This disorder occurs when there is no actual damage to the nerves or muscles used in speech, but the child is unable to voluntarily coordinate their muscle to produce speech sounds and words. This is generally referred to as a motor planning and execution disorder. Children are normally able to produce automatic movements such as licking an ice cream however they have great difficulty producing this movement when asked to.

Dyspraxia can be acquired through damage to the brain by trauma/accident, stroke, or illness. Dyspraxia may also occur developmentally in the absence of brain injury from no obvious cause.

Dyspraxia may affect any or all areas of development - physical, intellectual, emotional, social, language, and sensory - and may impair the normal process of learning, thus may be considered a learning difficulty.

What are the symptoms?

A child may:

• be slow to answer questions
• have difficulty making sounds or repeating sequences of sounds or words
• have difficulty sustaining normal intonation patterns
• have a very limited, automatic vocabulary
• may be slower speaking, using more pauses and fewer words

Who do I see and how is it diagnosed?

A Speech Pathologist will be able to assess whether a child is experiencing verbal dyspraxia or is possibly having other difficulties with their speech and language development.

What is the treatment?

There are several ways to assist with dyspraxia depending on the severity of the disorder, these include:

• Specific exercises designed by your speech pathologist
• Oral Musculature exercises
• Slowing a child's speech rate
• Breaking information into smaller chunks
• Clarifying what your child has said
• Encouraging verbal output

Remember

• Always consult your Speech Pathologist if you have any concerns about your child's communication.

Rehabilitation Department The Children's Hospital at Westmead Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, 2145 Tel: (02) 9845 2132 - Fax: (02) 9845 0685 http://www.chw.edu.au/rehabilitation/