🔍 Recognizing the Symptoms of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
- Lovedeep Kholia
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
When a child knows exactly what they want to say, but their words just don’t come out as planned—it can be confusing, heartbreaking, and often misunderstood. Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to coordinate the movements needed for clear speech. Understanding its symptoms is the first step toward meaningful support.
🧠 Why It’s Different from Other Speech Delays
Unlike typical speech delay, CAS affects the motor planning—not the muscles themselves. Children with CAS may understand language well but can’t consistently produce sounds or words the way they want to.
⚠️ Common Symptoms to Watch For
Here are key signs that may indicate CAS, especially between ages 18 months to 4 years:
Inconsistent sound errors: The same word may be pronounced differently each time.
Difficulty imitating speech: Even when asked to repeat, the child may struggle to copy sounds or words.
Groping movements: You may notice the child trying different mouth movements to find the right sound.
Limited consonant and vowel usage: Their speech may lack variety in sounds.
Disrupted rhythm and prosody: Speech may sound flat, robotic, or unusually choppy.
Better comprehension than expression: The child may follow instructions well but say very little.
Late onset of first words: Words may appear much later than typical milestones, and vocabulary may stay limited.
Unintelligible speech: Even close family members might find it difficult to understand the child’s speech.
Frustration with communication: Kids with CAS often know what they want to say and may get upset when they can’t make themselves understood.
🧑⚕️ When to Seek Help
These symptoms don’t always mean a child has CAS—but if several signs persist, especially beyond age 2, it’s worth seeking evaluation by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Early diagnosis helps set the stage for targeted intervention.
At Unicare Speech & Hearing Clinic, we provide specialized assessments and individualized therapy plans. Our focus is not just on speech production—but on helping children find their voice in the world.
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