Clinical characteristics of childhood apraxia of speech: literature review

Abstract

The lack of accuracy and consistency of speech movements in the absence of neuromuscular deficits are characteristic of apraxia. The alteration occurs in the planning and/or programming spatiotemporal of sequence movements parameters resulting in errors in the speech sounds production and prosodic disorders. This literature review aims to address the normal production of the articulatory gesture in the context of linked speech, similarities and differences between childhood apraxia of speech and acquired apraxia in adults, and features found in the literature that support the diagnosis of childhood apraxia. Unlike in children, apraxia in adults corresponds to loss of a neurological function. This disorder, in children, impairs the development of functions that are in acquisition.