Sign Language & Apraxia

        Apraxia of speech is a motor disorder that causes children to have difficulty making the movements needed for speech.  These children have the cognitive understanding for the spoken word, but lack the motor planning skills necessary to match the movements of the mouth with the words they are trying to say.  Obviously, this is extremely frustrating for the child.

       By working with a speech therapist, children with apraxia of speech usually resolve most of their problems with talking.  That is, they learn to speak despite the disorder, although it likely still exists.  Speech therapists help these children control how fast they talk, working on the cadence, rhythm and melody of their voice.  

        Speech therapists often use visual tools, such as white boards, pictures and signs.  Sign language provides a multi-sensory input that children with apraxia need to in order to develop normal speech.  Also, it helps to bridge the gap to verbal speech. With sign language, children with apraxia receive many of the same emotional, social and academic benefits as those children with other speech development disorders.