how do you explain apraxia to others?

April - posted on 08/25/2010

I say it is a neurological disorder that makes him not be able to move the muscles of his mouth like he needs to to make the words. Most everyone seems to understand this explanation. I like yours too though, I just don't know anyone whose had a stroke to compare to.

Kathy - posted on 08/25/2010

My son's therapist told me that although his brain is normal, the part that tells the muscles in the mouth how to form words is not working correctly.

Nicola - posted on 07/21/2010

My son is 15 and has and has severe verbal Dyspraxia, he is also touch and sound sensitive and all his senses are highly sensitive hates any noise that he hasn't chosen him self, but he is very intellegent except with reading and writing i use to have to interpret for him but he is extremely patient with people and makes them understand him his speech is getting better it was a big problem pronouncing his vowels and he can't say his R's and he does mumble his sentences, just being patient telling them to talk slowly helps, my son is extremely good on a computer and has a keyboard at school so he does'nt have to write. hope this helps xx

Amy - posted on 03/18/2010

My 6 yr old was diagnosed w/apraxia at a young age and is still receiving theropy since the age of 2 in school and in a private therapy. His motor skills are also behind as well as coordination. At first it was difficult for me to talk about my children's problems and issues I was facing. Family members still have a difficult time understanding him at one time or another. I learned what the disorder is and what it does. I tell others around me that my son has an oral motor disorder, meanin that he knows what to say, however his mouth cannot produce the words or sounds correctly. There is a slower connection between the path of the brain and processing the information. It is good to follow up with information about your child in order for you to explain the issue. Good luck...

Gianna - posted on 11/07/2009

I just say, "It's a neurological speech disorder. His brain and mouth don't work well to communicate what he wants to say." Then I give examples: "Instead of bubye, he used to say buzzah"

Stacy - posted on 10/26/2009

I tell people that his brain is the motor of a car. His mouth muscles and tongue are the tires. The wires from the motor to the tires are not connected therefore not firing correctly. So his muscles do not know what the brain is telling him to do. They have to learn it from repetitive teaching...aka Speech Therapy. Unlike other children, he has to learn how to make every single sound...because of those wires not being connected or misfiring. Once he is older those wires will grow together and he will be fine.







Simple for those simple people that say nasty things! LOL

Megan - posted on 07/27/2009

I usually just tell them that When you talk your mouth has to make a lot of movements really quickly to make each sound. And Ben's brain and his mouth arent' on the same frequency to tell him what to do.

Rachel - posted on 07/16/2009

The way my daughter's therapist simplified it for us, the pathways in the brain are making a complete connection every time. (I've been on the website and thought, I so didn't take the right classes in college.) Most of the time I just tell people, the words are in Natalie's head they just have a hard time get out of her mouth. Most people accept that. If they want more detail, I'm sure we can all give them reams of it! :)

Brandy - posted on 06/28/2009

Thanks for the great ideas. Unfortunately, I probably go into WAY to much technical detail when people ask. That's an engineer for ya!

Carina - posted on 05/30/2009

I also explain it as something similar to a stroke. I was told where strokes can show up in a cat scan, speech apraxia, 9 out of 10 times will not, but it effects the same areas of speech. I also say it is like the trigger is off... that the connectio nbetween her mouth and speech is not connected. There is basically a gap and sometimes it just takes longer for that gap to close than other moments.



I am happy to say though, that my child no longer needs therapy. After six years of therapy she is doing really well and is practically on the same level, in everything, as other kids her age (10).

Joanne - posted on 04/16/2009

Unfortunately especially when it comes to relatives they will never quite get it unless they spend a fair bit of time with your child. I've found it best to be as opened about it as you can. Explain that your son has trouble with getting his words out the way he would like, but he is just like any other three year old. Then let other people ask the questions and try your best to answer to the best of your knowledge. You'll find some people care to know, other know a little about it because they know other people and other look at you with pity (take no notice of them).
But wait as my daughter is 4 and it's even more fun to explain to another 4 year that ask if your child will talk when they turn 4.

Teresa - posted on 04/11/2009

I have explained apraxia of speech as this....My daughter has childhood apraxia of speech. She receives intensive speech therapy three times a week and attends a regular preschool. When she wants to say something, it comes out different than what is in her head. Her consonant vowels and vowels to consonants get reversed very easily. And then she can get very frustrated very easy because what she wants to say is not what is coming out. So, please give her a few moments to process what is going on and she will talk when she is ready. The words are there, and they will come out when they are ready.



And then they hesitate to find some kind words to say in this regard. I proudly hold my head up high and walk away. it's always a treat!