Amy Skinder-Meredith – Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Differential Diagnosis & Treatment

Outline

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): An Overview

• Developmental motor speech disorders
• Model of speech production
• Different beliefs on the underlying nature of CAS
• Characteristics of CAS
• Video and audio examples

Evaluating CAS

• The pitfalls of misdiagnosis
• Differentiate from other causes of speech disorders
• Assessment techniques designed to differently diagnose
• Phonologic impairment versus CAS versus dysarthria
• Determine the relative contribution of apraxia, phonologic impairment, dysarthria, cognition, and language to the child’s communication disorder
• Video case examples and discussion

Principles of Motor Learning and How it Applies to Treatment of CAS

• Precursors to motor learning
• Conditions of practice
• Practice variability
• Types of feedback

Treatment of CAS

• Key principles that are the most important to the treatment
• Clinical decision making in treatment and treatment planning
• Examples of various bottom-up therapy techniques
• Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC)
• Treatment for the non-verbal child
• Data collection and documenting progress

Incorporate Phonological Awareness and Early Literacy Skills

• Key elements to address that will improve both phonological awareness and speech
• Adaptive tools that are easy to use for teaching phonological awareness, speech, literacy, and language
• Benefits of intensive therapy summer camp models that address motor speech, phonological awareness, early literacy skills, and language