Understanding Apraxia
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder where children have difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to produce speech sounds. This challenge impacts their ability to form clear and consistent speech, even though they know what they want to say. Therapy for apraxia focuses on repetitive practice and motor planning exercises to improve speech clarity and consistency.
TalkTools Therapy and Motor Planning
TalkTools is a structured therapy approach that uses oral-motor exercises to build muscle strength and coordination. This method complements speech therapy by targeting the physical skills needed for clear speech. You can read more about how TalkTools therapy supports children with apraxia in this article.
Practice Worksheets for Apraxia
To support motor planning, I use worksheets designed for practicing speech at different levels:
CV (Consonant-Vowel): Words like “ma” and “go.”
VC (Vowel-Consonant): Words like “up” and “in.”
CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant): Words like “cat” and “sit.”
CVCV (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant-Vowel): Words like “mama” and “teddy.”
Find the worksheets below to practice:
Level- 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
These worksheets allow children to practice various combinations systematically, helping them master different speech patterns through repetition and visual cues.
Interactive Online Practice by worksheets
To make practice accessible and engaging, these worksheets are now available for online use. Click to access the full set of worksheets and help your child practice CV, VC, CVC, and CVCV words at their own pace.
Conclusion
Combining these worksheets with TalkTools therapy provides a holistic approach to improving motor planning and speech production in children with apraxia. Regular practice and structured exercises can empower children to communicate more effectively.
Author- Shabana Tariq SLP