Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)
When the words are there — and the mouth can't keep up.
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is when a child knows exactly what they want to say but their brain can’t reliably plan the movements to say it. CAS is rare, often misdiagnosed — and the right therapy can be life-changing.
- Apraxia-trained SLPs
- Frequent, motor-based
- Online or in-home
The basics, broken down
What apraxia is — and isn’t
A planning problem, not a muscle one
CAS is a motor speech disorder. Unlike articulation, where a sound is consistently wrong, in CAS the same word may come out differently every time. The breakdown isn’t in the muscles or in language understanding — it’s in the planning between brain and mouth.
Often misdiagnosed
CAS gets confused with severe articulation disorder or global language delay. Differential diagnosis matters: CAS responds best to a specific kind of motor-based therapy, with much higher session frequency than typical speech therapy.
Why frequency matters
Most kids with CAS need 2–4 sessions per week, especially early on. Done right, they make remarkable progress — and many catch up to peers on intelligibility, even if some traces remain.
Quick self-check
Signs of apraxia
These signs together raise the question of CAS. Any single one of them isn’t enough — the pattern is what matters:
Tap the ones that sound familiar
Even one of these is enough reason to look into it. We're here when you're ready.
If you’re seeing several of these, ask for a CAS-specific evaluation. Not every SLP is trained in apraxia — every Speech Bee who works with CAS is.
How we work on it
CAS therapy is intensive and motor-based. We use evidence-supported approaches like Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC), Rapid Syllable Transition (ReST), and integrated phonological awareness — selected based on your child’s age and profile.
1. Specialized evaluation
We assess motor planning specifically — multisyllabic words, vowel accuracy, prosody, consistency. We rule in or out CAS rather than treating it as a guess.
2. High-frequency motor practice
Lots of repetitions of carefully chosen words, with cueing that fades over time. Sessions are short and focused — kids do real, repeated motor work, not crafts that happen to involve speech.
3. Building syllable shapes
We start with simple syllable shapes (CV, VC, CVCV) and build up. Each step is locked in before we move on.
4. Functional, motivating words
We pick words your child wants to say — siblings’ names, favorite snacks, “let’s go.” Motivation drives volume of practice, and volume drives progress.
5. Parent partnership
CAS demands more home practice than any other speech disorder. We give you concrete, realistic, 5-minute drills you can run multiple times a day.
In-home apraxia therapy
Frequent, predictable sessions are a cornerstone of CAS care. For families that can swing it, in-home offers the right environment for high-rep motor work.
- Less travel fatigue when sessions are 3–4× per week.
- Younger kids stay regulated in their own space.
- Parents see exactly how to cue and we train you live, every visit.
- We can pre-load practice into your daily routines.
Virtual apraxia therapy
CAS via telehealth is well-supported by recent research, and works especially well for school-age kids and families in areas where CAS-trained SLPs are scarce.
- Access to apraxia-trained SLPs no matter where you live.
- Session frequency is easier when you’re not driving across town.
- Visual cueing translates surprisingly well to high-quality video.
- Recordings (with your permission) so parents can review the cues we used.
Every Speech Bee
Real, licensed Speech-Language Pathologists.
Every SLP we connect you with for apraxia is ASHA-certified, master's-trained, and licensed in their state — with pediatric experience. No shortcuts, no aides.
- ✓ASHA-certified
- ✓Master's-trained
- ✓State-licensed
Common questions
How often should we be doing therapy?
Most CAS guidelines recommend 2–4 sessions per week, with home practice on the off days. Less than that and progress slows. We’ll work with you to find a schedule that’s realistic and effective.
Will my child outgrow apraxia?
CAS doesn’t resolve on its own, but with the right therapy, kids can make dramatic gains. Many become highly intelligible to unfamiliar listeners. Some traces of CAS may persist; the goal is functional, confident communication.
Is apraxia related to autism?
They’re distinct, but co-occur in some kids. We screen for both and tailor therapy accordingly. Many of our SLPs are experienced working with autistic kids.
How do I know if my child has CAS or just a delay?
Differential diagnosis is what we do. A CAS-specific evaluation looks at motor planning, vowel accuracy, prosody, and consistency — and gives you a clear answer.
Ready to meet a Speech Bee?
Pop in your ZIP and we'll show you who's near you — or jump to virtual if home is easier.
Prefer online? See virtual sessions.
Other things we work on
Not sure yet?
Just have a question? We're happy to chat.
No ZIP, no signup, no commitment. Send us a quick note and a real person will write back.
Ask us anything