Treatment for adults whose brain has trouble planning the movements for speech, even though the speech muscles themselves are not weak. Repeated, movement-based practice makes speech more consistent and easier to understand.
Speaking clearly relies on a clean signal from the brain to the muscles of the mouth, directing exactly how they need to move to form sounds. In apraxia of speech (AOS), that signal gets disrupted — the brain has trouble planning and coordinating the precise tongue and mouth movements needed for speech, even though the muscles themselves work fine. In more severe cases, a person can lose the ability to speak altogether. We work with people affected by AOS through focused, repetition-based training aimed at restoring effective communication, with individualized care plans built around each person's needs and support for the caregivers alongside them.
Apraxia more broadly is a neurological condition where someone can't carry out certain movements despite having the physical ability and desire to do so — it isn't a muscle problem, it's a planning-and-coordination problem. It shows up in a few different forms: orofacial apraxia affects specific facial movements, like winking or licking the lips, while limb apraxia affects intentional movement of the arms and legs. Apraxia of speech itself is when this difficulty specifically affects the tongue and mouth movements needed to talk. Depending on which part of the brain is affected, a person can have more than one form at once — someone with apraxia of speech, for instance, may also have oral apraxia. Oral apraxia doesn't take away all facial movement, either; automatic actions like sneezing or yawning still happen normally, while voluntary ones like smiling or chewing on command become difficult. Milder versions of apraxia are sometimes referred to as dyspraxia.
Apraxia makes it hard to get the words out, even when you know them.Apraxia of speech generally falls into two categories.
Mild apraxia of speech may barely affect how someone talks, but more severe cases can be significantly disruptive — often deeply frustrating, since the person knows exactly what they want to say but their mouth and tongue simply won't cooperate. A few patterns tend to show up.
Our speech-language pathologists work with both children and adults affected by AOS, focusing on practicing words, syllables, and phrases. Progress takes time, and more severe cases often call for frequent sessions early on, tapering off as speech improves. There's no single approach that works best for every person with apraxia, so we draw on a mix of proven techniques and tailor them to what each person needs.
Practice focuses on planning and sequencing speech movements.The central goal is improving sound production and helping those sounds come together fluidly into words, by training the muscles involved in speech to move the way they need to. We work with each person on how to move those muscles for specific words and phrases, with consistent practice and repetition as the foundation. We also often teach techniques to help slow speech down or bring it to a steadier rhythm, which can make words easier to produce clearly. In more severe cases, we may introduce alternative communication methods alongside speech work — hand gestures, pointing to letters, or writing.
Every clear word is a win.People with apraxia often understand language better than they can produce it themselves. We typically start with a hearing evaluation to rule out hearing loss as a contributing factor, then assess speech development to understand the full scope of the difficulty. From there, therapy centers on helping a person plan, sequence, and coordinate the movements speech requires. Our therapists bring rigorous training and broad experience to build a plan around each person's specific strengths, and that includes evaluation, treatment, hands-on practice, and guidance for parents and caregivers on creating a home environment that supports continued progress.
Therapy happens in the comfort of home.You can schedule by call, text, or a quick online form — we'll set up your free consultation within 24 hours.
