Motor speech disorders refer to difficulties with the physical production of speech due to problems with the muscles or motor planning systems involved in speech. These disorders can make it hard for children to coordinate and control the movements needed to produce clear and accurate speech. Motor speech disorders can include apraxia of speech and dysarthria, two distinct conditions that affect speech motor skills in different ways.
Apraxia of speech, also known as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), is a motor speech disorder in which children have difficulty planning and coordinating the movements required for speech. The muscles needed for speaking are not weak, but the brain struggles to send the correct signals to make the movements in the right sequence and at the right time.
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by weakness or poor coordination of the muscles involved in speech, including the lips, tongue, vocal cords, and diaphragm. Dysarthria is often a result of neurological conditions or developmental delays, and it can affect the clarity, strength, and smoothness of speech. Unlike apraxia, which involves difficulty planning speech movements, dysarthria involves difficulty with the physical execution of those movements.
Treatment is tailored to your child's specific needs and focuses on improving their ability to control and coordinate the movements required for clear speech.
Our therapy may include:
◦ Repetitive, structured practice: Your child will practice speech sounds and syllables, using techniques like integral stimulation (watch, listen, and say) and targeted motor practice.
◦ Speech sound combinations: Your child will produce increasingly complex sounds and words in a structured sequence.
◦ Visual and tactile cues: Using hand gestures, visual cues, and touch cues to support correct speech movements
◦ Improving breath control: Teaching your child to control their breath for clearer, more powerful speech.
◦ Adjusting speaking rate and volume: Working with your child to control the pace and loudness of their speech.
Helping children pronounce sounds clearly and develop patterns for effective speech.
Supporting understanding, vocabulary growth, and sentence structure for clear communication.
Building confidence and flow in speech through evidence-based stuttering therapies.
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Psychologist centers are staffed by licensed psychologists and mental health professionals. These professionals may include clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and other specialists.
Examining the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, effective communication, and conflict resolution.
