It can be confusing to understand apraxia versus dyspraxia. In both conditions brain has trouble sending the right signals to the muscles. It can affect how a person moves and speaks.
This guide will break down the causes, signs, and speech therapies for each condition. Knowing these differences will help you support your child on their journey.
What Is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is also called developmental coordination disorder (DCD). When this happens, the brain has trouble telling muscles how to work properly. Simple tasks like tying shoelaces, drawing, or playing sports become hard.
What Are the Different Types of Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia can show up in different ways and affect different kinds of movements. Here are the main types:
- Motor Dyspraxia: This is the most common form. It affects both large and small muscle movements. For the large movement or motor skills, it gets difficult to run, jump, or catch a ball. And for the small motor skills, or fine motor skills, a person might have issues writing with a pencil, using scissors, or buttoning a shirt.
- Verbal Dyspraxia: This one is an older term that created a lot of confusion. Today, most experts call this condition Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
- Oral Dyspraxia: A child with this issue might have trouble with tasks like licking lips. And it might be difficult for them to blow bubbles or chew food as well.
Dyspraxia Symptoms in Teenagers and Adults
Dyspraxia does not always go away. Teens and adults might still find some tasks hard. Here are the things they find difficult to do sometimes:
- Driving or sports.
- Neat, quick handwriting.
- Time management and planning.
- Keeping a job or schoolwork with multiple tasks.
What Is Apraxia of Speech?
Apraxia of speech is a brain-based speech disorder. The person will know what they want to say, but their brain fails to send clear signals to the mouth.
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is when this problem is found early in life and is not caused by brain injury. It is also called developmental verbal dyspraxia. It only affects how you plan your speech.
How to Recognize Different Types of Apraxia Symptoms?
Here are the signs that will tell if your child has apraxia:
- Inconsistent Errors: A child might say a word one way and then say it completely differently. For example, they might say “bubble,” and then a few minutes later, they will say “duddle.”
- Groping for Sounds: You might see the child’s mouth move around as they try to find the right position to make a sound.
- Trouble with Longer Words: The more syllables a word has, the harder it is for them to say.
- Strange Rhythm or Stress: Speech might sound flat, choppy, or have stress on the wrong syllable.
What Is the Difference Between Dyspraxia and Apraxia?
Here are the main differences between these two conditions:
How to Support & Where to Get Help?
If you think your child or student is showing signs of apraxia versus dyspraxia, here are the steps you can take:
- Talk to a family doctor for a referral.
- Get your child checked by a certified SLP or occupational therapist like Vancouver Speech Therapy.
- Practice at home with simple tools and exercises.
- Work with teachers to adjust learning plans.
- Join support groups to meet others going through the same thing.
Find the Support Your Child Needs
Conclusion
Understanding apraxia versus dyspraxia helps families and professionals find the right path. Each person’s needs will be different, but support is out there.
With proper therapy and training, this can be better. So don’t lose hope yet! Learn more, ask questions, and don’t wait, because the sooner we start, the better the results.