Skip to content
SpeechBees

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)

When the words are there — and the mouth can't keep up.

Book a free 15-minute consultation
  • Apraxia-trained SLPs
  • Frequent, motor-based
  • In your home

The basics, broken down

What apraxia is — and isn’t

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

or
Book a free 15-minute consultation

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.

Step by step

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. In parent-assisted sessions we teach you the same cues we use, plus realistic 5-minute drills you can run multiple times a day.

Where therapy happens

Apraxia therapy in your home

In-home

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.
Why in person

Why we keep apraxia therapy in person

Speech Bees only offers stuttering therapy online. We believe speech therapy works best hands-on, and that matters most for motor-based apraxia work.

  • Touch and tactile cues guide your child’s mouth through each movement.
  • Your Speech Bee sees every attempt up close and adjusts in the moment.
  • Frequent sessions are easier when the in-home Speech Bee comes to you.
  • Parent-assisted sessions teach you the same cues, so home practice matches therapy.

What every family gets

  • Free 15-minute consultation

    Talk it through with us before you commit to anything.

  • Free parents guide

    Yours at the very first session.

  • Parent-assisted sessions

    Join in and learn the same practices your SLP uses at home.

  • Hand-picked SLPs

    We evaluate every Speech Bee, including how they are with kids.

Who you'll meet

Real, licensed SLPs for apraxia therapy.

ASHA-certified

Certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the national standard for SLPs.

Free 15-minute consultation

Wondering if apraxia therapy fits your child?

Tell us what you're noticing. A real person writes back, usually within one business day, and the first step is a free 15-minute consultation.

Good to know

Common questions about apraxia therapy

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.

Can apraxia therapy be done online?

No. Apraxia therapy is in-home only. It relies on hands-on, tactile cueing, and stuttering is the only service we offer online. A licensed Speech Bee comes to your home.

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.

Not sure yet? Book a free 15-minute consultation

More ways we help

Other things we work on

Not sure yet?

Just have a question? We're happy to chat.

Start with a free 15-minute consultation, or send us a quick note. A real person writes back.

Ask us anything