When a child has difficulty saying words or even the sounds that make up the words, and it is not due to a weakness in the muscles or even paralysis, it could be childhood apraxia of speech. This disorder makes it difficult for the brain to send the signals to the necessary body parts, such as the mouth, lips and tongue, to tell them to move to say the words. There typically isn’t a problem with determining what to say; it is getting the mouth to cooperate and get the words out that is the problem. With the appropriate method of speech therapy NJ, children can learn to overcome this disorder.
The Signs
As a parent, you are probably cognizant of how your child speaks, making you the first person aware of the problem, as well as the person responsible for finding a solution. Even infants can start to exhibit signs, such as not making any sounds, even tiny babbles. As they enter toddlerhood and they should be speaking, some children won’t speak at all, while others will choose simple words to use because they cannot form the more difficult words. Older children could exhibit signs of nervousness when talking, difficulty getting certain sounds out and difficulty in annunciation.
Diagnosis
The first determination should be if your child has a hearing issue. Once hearing loss is eliminated as an issue, oral assessments will be done. A professional in speech therapy in NJ will perform motor assessments to see if the mouth can form the words and a speech assessment to determine intonation and pronunciation issues.
Treatment
Children with childhood apraxia of speech can benefit from a variety of therapy methods. Some children will do better with individual therapy sessions, while others thrive better in the group sessions. Each child will receive individualized assessments to determine the appropriate method for his level of difficulty. Intensive therapy sessions will likely be endured and practice at home will be greatly encouraged to help your child overcome his disorder and be able to speak articulately without difficulty.
It can be difficult to see your child experience a speech disorder, such as childhood apraxia of speech, but when you are proactive and get him the help he needs right away, the appropriate speech therapy in NJ can make a tremendous difference. The earlier you seek help, the faster your child will be able to overcome his disorder and be able to speak easily.
