What is apraxia? What are the most important characteristics of apraxia?

Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects the motor planning (moving) and the capacity of speaking or articulating sounds. This type of neurological disorder may be developmental or acquired. There are many types of apraxia and many of them are characterized by inabilities or difficulties in performing some common actions.

How many types of apraxia exist?

There are about seven types of apraxia and they are the following:

• the verbal apraxia also known as apraxia of speech;
• the non-verbal-oral apraxia that is considered the most common form and is characterized by the difficulty or inability of making facial movement when needed;
• the limb-kinetic apraxia characterized by the inability of making precise movements with a limb;
• the constructional apraxia, which regards the inability of drawing or constructing simple figures;
• the oculomotor apraxia concerns the difficulty of the eyes movements;
• the ideomotor apraxia is the inability to perform motor commands;
• the ideational apraxia is characterized by the inability of planning special movements.

Is one type of apraxia the sign for other disorders?

One form of apraxia does not necessarily imply the development or acquirement of other forms of apraxia. Nevertheless, in some cases several difficulties are to be noticed, but they do not eventually develop in other forms of apraxia.

What is the difference between apraxia of speech and aphasia?

The apraxia of speech is the inability or difficulty of motor planning in order to formulate words while the aphasia is a severe language disorder with difficulties in formulation, language expression and even comprehension. Aphasia is the result of stroke, epilepsy or other brain damage and even if there are some similarities between the two disorders, it is not possible for a patient with apraxia of speech to develop aphasia. The coexistence of the two disorders is the result of serious neurological problems.

At what age the diagnosis of the apraxia of speech is possible?

It is difficult to give a certain answer because of the differences between the children’s development, but in many cases the age of 2-4 is enough for establishing a diagnosis and for starting a therapy. This is possible only if the specialist consider that there are signs for worries.

What are the most reliable resources concerning the apraxia for parents?

Maybe the most amazing and exact reliable source for all types of questions and needed therapies about apraxia are available on the internet. Recent resources, articles, relevant facts, recommended exercises and special therapies, groups for online communication about the same concerns and worries are all available on internet. Libraries and special bookstores may also have the necessary information for the parents whose children suffer from one form of apraxia. Conferences may be another resource for the parents and a great chance of meeting professionals and therapists in this field. Meeting other parents with the same problems and maybe hopes for future joys may be also great.

What is the treatment for people with apraxia?

The treatment usually includes special types of therapy, taking into account the type of apraxia. In the case of apraxia of speech there is special speech therapy, in the case of limb-kinetic, ideomotor apraxia physical therapy is needed. In some cases occupational therapy is recommended or the combination of the mentioned therapies for achieving the best results.

What is the difference between apraxia and dysarthria?

Disarthria supposes a certain muscle weakness so that this is the cause of the difficulty or inability of making precise movements on command. Besides, the people who suffer from apraxia of speech may repeat the wrong pronunciation several times before pronouncing it right and they make unexpected mistakes of speech.