What are the symptoms of childhood apraxia of speech?

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What are the symptoms of childhood apraxia of speech?

The symptoms of CAS vary from child to child. In general, children affected by CAS usually understand the language but have difficulty with speaking and communicating. Symptoms for children with CAS include:

  • Making inconsistent errors in speech.
  • Difficulty coordinating the movement from one syllable of a word to the next syllable.
  • Distorting sounds.
  • Attempting to say a word several times before saying it correctly.
  • Making errors in the tone, stress or rhythm of speech.

Symptoms before 3 years of age

Signs and symptoms of CAS may appear at different stages of a child’s life. Children younger than 3 years may:

  • Not make babbling or cooing sounds.
  • Use only a few different sounds.
  • Have trouble putting sounds together.
  • Take long pauses between sounds.
  • Say words differently each time.
  • Say their first words later than expected.
  • Have problems eating.

Symptoms after 3 years of age

Children diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech who are older than 3 years may:

  • Have difficulty saying longer words clearly.
  • Have trouble imitating what other people say.
  • Be hard to understand, especially for people who don’t know the child.
  • Have a flat or choppy speech pattern.
  • Grope, or search, for words by moving their mouth a few times before speaking.
  • Have more trouble speaking when nervous.

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