FACT: Families should continue to use their native language with the child with CAS as having a good model of language in the home will help the child develop their language skills in both their native language and in English. MYTH: Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC), such as sign language or speech generating devices, inhibits verbal speech development and should be discouraged. [...] FACT: Use of AAC methods with a child with minimal verbal skills will help their verbal language skills develop and reduce frustration that is due to not having an effective way to communicate. [...] A screening should be completed by a speech language pathologist to determine if the errors are age appropriate or if therapy is recommended. [...] Phonological Processing Disorder A child has difficulty using the speech sounds in the correct place in words. They will have a variety of vowel and consonant sounds when they speak, but there are patterns to the errors. The final sound might be missing in words or there are consistent substitutions of sounds like /t/ for /s/ or /d/ for /g/. [...] If a child is at least three years old and is less than 75% intelligible by someone outside the immediate family, an evaluation should be completed by a speech language pathologist. Dysarthria A child usually has a diagnosed neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy that causes a change in their muscle tone (hypertonia or hypotonia) which affects their ability to do gross and fine motor move [...] Often there is drooling present, and their speech sounds very slow, labored, distorted and difficult to understand depending on the severity of it which can be mild to severe. [...] Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) A child has difficulty with the motor planning and programming of speech which results in difficulty sequencing sounds correctly for words. Young children have a history of little to no babbling as an infant, slow progress in therapy, and they have limited vowels and consonants that they use spontaneously and in imitation. [...] Depending on the severity, they can be minimally verbal or use words and be very difficult to understand. [...] A speech language pathologist is the best person to evaluate a child who is having any of the above speech or language difficulties. Children can be referred to Early Childhood Intervention in their area or their local school district depending on their age or to a speech and language clinic in their community. [...] Early intervention for children with a severe speech sound or language disorder can make all the difference in the child becoming a successful verbal communicator and in reducing the disorder’s impact on other skills such as literacy and academics. www.apraxia-kids.org 412.785.7072 info@apraxia-kids.org
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