Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Foundational Knowledge and Clinical Management - Psychology

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a pediatric motor speech disorder that often results in severely impaired speech intelligibility. Children with CAS often demonstrate slow progress in treatment and can exhibit challenges with speech production that persist through adulthood.

The clinical management of CAS requires understanding of what differentiates this disorder from other speech sound disorders, including the underlying impairment and characteristic features. It also requires a specific approach to assessment to identify and target the motor-based difficulties associated with CAS.

This course will provide participants with a background in the definition of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), underlying deficits of CAS, and characteristic features of this disorder. Detailed information will be reviewed regarding assessment procedures for the differential diagnosis of CAS with an emphasis on dynamic assessment. Motor-based techniques will be reviewed for the treatment of CAS, including practical strategies for using dynamic treatment strategies.

During this course, there will be discussion, case studies, and hands-on application of material to provide clinically-relevant information that participants can apply to their clinical practice to:

• Understand CAS and how it differs from other speech sound disorders in children;
• Identify characteristic features of CAS and the importance of careful listening;
• Obtain procedures for the assessment of CAS and application of dynamic assessment;
• Learn about evidence-based techniques for intervention;
• Discuss key elements of clinical management.

Course Outline

• Foundations of CAS
• Definition of CAS
• Understanding the underlying deficit of CAS
• How motor impairment impacts assessment and treatment
• Detailed description of characteristic features of CAS
• Assessment of CAS
• Procedures for differential diagnosis of CAS
• Dynamic assessment and significance within assessment of CAS
• Differentiating CAS from other speech sound disorders, such as phonological impairment
• Motor-based Intervention & Considerations for Clinical Management
• Definition of motor-based intervention and rationale for this approach
• A review of therapeutic techniques that have research evidence for treating CAS with a focus on Dynamic Temporal Tactile Cueing
• How Principles of Motor Learning can be used to structure therapy sessions and guide intervention technique
• Designing treatment targets and language-specific considerations when designing stimuli
• Practical strategies for getting started in treatment

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define CAS and the underlying impairment of this disorder.
2. Describe characteristic features of CAS.
3. Describe assessment procedures for the differential diagnosis of CAS.
4. Explain the significance of dynamic assessment in the diagnosis of CAS.
5. Name elements of motor-based intervention.
6. Describe DTTC with regard to the temporal hierarchy and use of multisensory cueing.
7. Explain how principles of motor learning are integrated within treatment planning.