Apraxia is a disorder of the brain and nervous system in which a person is unable to perform tasks or movements when asked, even though:
Verbal apraxia; Dyspraxia; Speech disorder - apraxia; Childhood apraxia of speech; Apraxia of speech; Acquired apraxia
Apraxia is caused by damage to the brain. When apraxia develops in a person who was previously able to perform the tasks or abilities, it is called acquired apraxia.
The most common causes of acquired apraxia are:
Apraxia may also be seen at birth. Symptoms appear as the child grows and develops. The cause is unknown.
Apraxia of speech is often present along with another speech disorder called aphasia. Depending on the cause of apraxia, a number of other brain or nervous system problems may be present.
A person with apraxia is unable to put together the correct order of muscle movements. At times, a completely different word or action is used than the one the person intended to speak or make. The person is often aware of the mistake.
Symptoms of apraxia of speech include:
Other forms of apraxia include:
People with apraxia can benefit from treatment by a health care team. The team should also include family members.
Occupational and speech therapists play an important role in helping both people with apraxia and their caregivers learn ways to deal with the disorder.
During treatment, therapists will focus on:
Recognition and treatment of depression is important for people with apraxia.
To help with communication, family and friends should:
Other tips for daily living include:
If depression or frustration is severe, mental health counseling may help.
Kirrie Ballard practices in Lidcombe, Australia. Ballard is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Apraxia. They are also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. Their top areas of expertise are Apraxia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, Swallowing Difficulty, and Autosomal Cleft Palate.
Tim Vanbellingen practices in Lucerne, Switzerland. Vanbellingen is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Apraxia. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Apraxia, Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, and Stroke.
Stephan Bohlhalter practices in Bern, Switzerland. Bohlhalter is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Apraxia. He is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Apraxia, Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, and Drug Induced Dyskinesia.
Many people with apraxia are no longer able to be independent and may have trouble performing everyday tasks. Ask the health care provider which activities may or may not be safe. Avoid activities that may cause injury and take the proper safety measures.
Having apraxia may lead to:
Contact the provider if someone has difficulty performing everyday tasks or has other symptoms of apraxia after a stroke or brain injury.
Reducing your risk of stroke and brain injury may help prevent conditions that lead to apraxia.
Summary: Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a complex, multivariate speech motor disorder characterized by difficulty planning and programming movements of the speech articulators (ASHA, 2007; Ayres, 1985; Campbell et al., 2007; Davis et al., 1998; Forrest, 2003; Shriberg et al., 1997). Despite the profound impact that CAS can have on a child's ability to communicate, little data are available to direct ...
Summary: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects on motor and cognitive performance of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) compared to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and placebo stimulation (sham) in patients with neurodegenerative ataxia to identify a possible rehabilitation protocol.
Published Date: May 02, 2022
Published By: Amit M. Shelat, DO, FACP, FAAN, Attending Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Basilakos A. Contemporary approaches to the management of post-stroke apraxia of speech. Semin Speech Lang. 2018;39(1):25-36. PMID: 29359303 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29359303/.
Kirshner HS. Dysarthria and apraxia of speech. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website. Apraxia of speech. www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/apraxia-speech. Updated October 31, 2017. Accessed July 29, 2022.