Childhood Apraxia of Speech Therapy in the Twin Cities
Specialized, evidence-based motor speech therapy to help your child communicate with greater clarity and confidence.
Does your child know exactly what they want to say, but struggle to get the words out clearly? Maybe their speech sounds different each time they say the same word, longer words are especially challenging, or progress in traditional speech therapy has been slower than expected. At Speech with Layla, I provide specialized evaluations and individualized treatment for children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and other motor speech difficulties.
With over seven years of pediatric experience and advanced training in motor-based treatment approaches, I help children develop the speech movement skills they need to communicate more effectively.
Now accepting new clients for in-home speech therapy in Edina, Minnesota, and surrounding communities.
Signs of Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Every child with CAS presents differently. However, some characteristics that may raise concern include:
Inconsistent speech errors: Your child may pronounce the same word differently across attempts.
Difficulty combining sounds and syllables: Longer or more complex words may be especially challenging.
Unusual speech rhythm or stress: Speech may sound choppy, or emphasis may fall on unexpected syllables.
Difficulty imitating words: Your child may struggle to repeat sounds or words, even when trying hard.
Vowel errors: Vowels may sound distorted or different from the intended word.
Limited progress with traditional speech therapy: Your child may have participated in therapy without making the progress you hoped to see.
These characteristics do not automatically mean a child has CAS. Other speech sound disorders can share similar features, making a comprehensive motor speech evaluation important.
How Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech Diagnosed?
Diagnosing childhood apraxia of speech requires a careful, comprehensive evaluation by a speech-language pathologist with expertise in motor speech disorders. Because CAS can share characteristics with other speech sound disorders, it's important to look beyond which sounds a child can or cannot produce and understand how they plan, coordinate, and sequence the movements needed for speech.
During a motor speech evaluation, I assess your child's speech through a combination of play-based interactions, structured speech tasks, and dynamic assessment. I look closely at several important features, including:
Speech sound accuracy and consistency: Does your child produce the same word differently across attempts?
Speech movement transitions: How smoothly can your child move between sounds and syllables?
Word complexity: What happens to speech accuracy as words become longer or more challenging?
Prosody: Does your child use natural rhythm, timing, and stress when speaking?
Response to cueing: How does your child's speech improve with modeling, visual cues, or additional support?
One of the most valuable parts of my evaluation is dynamic assessment. Rather than simply identifying speech errors, I explore what helps your child produce words more successfully. This provides important information about their speech motor planning abilities and helps guide treatment decisions.
There is no single test or symptom that definitively diagnoses CAS. Instead, I consider patterns across multiple speech characteristics, your child's developmental history, and their response to different types of support.
My goal is to provide families with more than a diagnosis. I want you to leave the evaluation with a clearer understanding of your child's speech difficulties, their strengths, and an individualized plan for helping them make meaningful progress.
Evidence-Based Treatment for CAS
Children with CAS often benefit from treatment that emphasizes repeated, purposeful practice of speech movements, with individualized feedback and carefully selected targets.
My approach is grounded in principles of motor learning and tailored to each child's age, speech abilities, and communication goals.
DTTC is an evidence-based treatment approach designed to help children with childhood apraxia of speech develop more accurate and consistent speech movements. It is particularly beneficial for younger children and those with more significant motor speech difficulties.
Rather than practicing individual sounds in isolation, DTTC focuses on repeated practice of meaningful words using individualized modeling and cueing. As children become more successful, support is gradually reduced to encourage greater independence.
I have completed advanced training in DTTC and incorporate this approach when appropriate for a child's individual speech needs.
Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC)
ReST is an evidence-based treatment approach that helps children with childhood apraxia of speech improve speech sound accuracy, transitions between syllables, and natural speech rhythm.
This approach is often appropriate for older children who are ready for more structured speech practice. Using carefully designed multisyllabic practice words, ReST helps children develop the coordination needed for increasingly complex speech.
I have specialized training in ReST and use this approach when it aligns with a child's speech abilities and treatment goals.
Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST)
Why Choose Layla for CAS Therapy?
Effective speech therapy starts with understanding why a child is having difficulty speaking. Childhood apraxia of speech requires a different treatment approach than articulation or phonological disorders, making specialized expertise essential.
With extensive clinical experience and advanced training in DTTC and ReST, I identify each child's unique speech needs and develop targeted, evidence-based treatment plans designed to support meaningful progress.
FAQ About CAS
How do I know if my child has childhood apraxia of speech?
Children with CAS may have inconsistent speech errors, difficulty combining sounds and syllables, or unusual speech rhythm. Because these characteristics can overlap with other speech disorders, a comprehensive motor speech evaluation is important for determining the underlying difficulty.
Can childhood apraxia of speech be treated?
Yes! Children with CAS can make meaningful progress with specialized, evidence-based speech therapy. Treatment focuses on improving the planning and coordination of speech movements through individualized practice and support.
How often should my child receive therapy?
Children with CAS often benefit from frequent, structured speech practice. The ideal therapy frequency depends on your child's age, speech abilities, and individual needs. Recommendations are made following a comprehensive evaluation.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether your child has a diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech or you're looking for answers about their speech development, I'm here to help.
Specialized in-home speech therapy in Edina, MN, and surrounding communities.