Apraxia is a term often used to describe difficulty with motor planning in order to achieve a predetermined idea or purpose. Other terms associated with apraxia include developmental coordination disorder, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), motor apraxia, oral apraxia, and many others.
For the purposes of understanding where these terms come from we must understand what “praxis” means. Praxis is the ability to come up with a motor plan, organize the information to carry out the plan, and execute the plan. For most of the children we treat, the term dyspraxia or Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is most appropriate.
Characteristics of Dyspraxia/CAS Birth – Age 3
Irritable, easily distressed, difficult to comfort
Sleep difficulties
Delayed milestones (motor and language)
Fleeting attention
Sensory sensitivities
Feeding problems (excess drooling, incoordination)
Limited babbling
Limited sounds in repertoire
Avoid constructive play (building)
Characteristics of Dyspraxia/CAS - Preschool Child
Clumsiness
Difficulty with fine motor skills or tool use
Difficulty with self help tasks
Avoids creative or constructive play
Limited imaginative play
Difficulty with verbal instruction
Limited language abilities (receptive higher than expressive)
Messy eater
Difficulty with peer interactions
Possible behavioral issues
Possible sensory issues
Characteristics of Dyspraxia/CAS – School Age Child
Difficulty following school routine
Difficulty with multi-step directions and multi-tasking
Difficulty with self care skills
Fine motor delays, handwriting deficits
Visual-motor and visual perceptual deficits
Delayed gross motor skills, difficulty with physical education class
Deficits with reading and spelling
Poor social skills
Immaturity and difficulty establishing peer relationships
Difficulty in speech control (volume, articulation, intonation)