Apraxia of speech Mate whakahauā ā-reo

Apraxia of speech is caused by damage to the areas of the brain that coordinate the muscles involved in speech. This includes the muscles of the:

• lungs
• voice box
• lips
• tongue.

You may have had:

• a stroke, which is the most common cause
• a head injury, for example in a car accident.

Symptoms of apraxia of speech include:

• having difficulty starting a word
• your speech sounding distorted and slow
• words sounding different each time you say them
• struggling to say long words and sentences
• finding everyday sayings easier than answering questions or describing something.

The level of difficulty varies from person to person. Some people may not be able to speak at all. Others may only have occasional problems with a word.

You may have both aphasia (a language disorder) and apraxia of speech. One of these disorders may be worse than the other.

Your healthcare provider will refer you to a speech-language therapist who will:

• listen carefully to how you talk
• look for signs to see if you have trouble planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech
• ask you to repeat sounds, words, or sentences to see if you struggle
• make sure your difficulty is not caused by muscle weakness, memory problems, or understanding issues
• watch how your speech changes during your session, or over multiple visits.

Try to relax and take your time. Keep your answers short and simple. If you get stuck on a word, try to:

• say it in a different way
• break up longer words into syllables to make them easier to say
• say only the keywords if you cannot get the full sentence out clearly
• write it down
• gesture
• point to what you want
• use your communication book or device.

People you communicate with can also help by:

• giving you time to get your message out
• being patient when you are frustrated, and asking you to stop and rest
• asking you questions that only need a 'yes' or 'no' response
• encouraging you to gesture or write things down
• encouraging you to use your communication book or device
• reducing distractions
• helping you practise your speech exercises
• letting you know if they do not understand you.

A lot can change over the first few days, weeks and months. Some people recover very quickly. For others, it is a slow process.

You may never communicate as well as you did before. But some people still see signs of progress years later.

A speech-language therapist can work with you and your whānau to help improve your speech and develop new ways to communicate effectively.

Speech-language therapists