Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
If you, your child, or a loved one has been diagnosed with apraxia of speech, it’s natural to have questions about exactly what this diagnosis means. While apraxia is not considered a disability under most definitions, it is a motor speech disorder that can make communication difficult. Children with apraxia may need extra support in school. Adults with apraxia may rely on other ways to express themselves beyond speech.
In this article, we’ll help you understand what apraxia is, how it affects speech, and the types of treatment and support that can make a real difference.
Is apraxia a disability or disorder?
The short answer is that apraxia is not classified as a disability under most legal or medical systems. It is a neurological speech disorder—more specifically, a motor speech disorder.
“While apraxia itself isn’t considered a disability, it can still lead to challenges with everyday communication,” says Alexis Irazoque, M.S., L/SLP, a speech-language pathologist with Expressable. That’s why many children and adults with apraxia need speech therapy, educational support, and sometimes accommodations at school or work.
What is apraxia?
Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that can make talking difficult. Apraxia affects the way a person’s brain plans and coordinates the movements of their mouth, lips, and tongue to produce speech. A person with apraxia usually knows what they want to say, but their brain has trouble sending the right signals to make the sounds correctly. In other words, there’s a disconnect between what their brain wants to say and how their mouth moves. This can make it hard to form sounds clearly and consistently.
Apraxia of speech can affect both children and adults. Apraxia can be something a person is born with, called childhood apraxia of speech. It can also happen later in life after an event like a stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumor, or progressive disease. This is called acquired apraxia of speech.
People with apraxia often need support to communicate. While some may speak clearly with speech therapy, others might also use gestures, pictures, or technology to help them express themselves.
So while apraxia is not a disability, it still brings challenges that may require ongoing support. The good news? With the right help, people with apraxia can improve their speech and find the tools they need to connect with others.
What does apraxia of speech sound like?
Apraxia of speech makes it hard for a person to coordinate the movements of their mouth. This means they may have trouble turning sounds into syllables, syllables into words, and words into sentences. This can make their speech sound unclear.
Common signs of apraxia of speech include:
Inconsistent speech: A person may say the same word differently each time they try.
Sound errors: Certain sounds, especially vowels or long, complex words, may come out wrong or be hard to say.
“Groping” behaviors: The person might move their mouth around as they try to find the right position to make a sound.
Unusual rhythm: Speech may sound choppy or broken. The person might pause in the middle of words, leave out syllables, or separate syllables in a way that sounds unnatural.
While apraxia can make speech difficult to understand, there are many ways to help. Irazoque notes, “With speech therapy, many children and adults with apraxia improve their clarity and confidence over time.”
How is apraxia of speech treated?
If you’re wondering whether apraxia is a disability or disorder, it’s important to know that while apraxia is not a disability, it can be successfully treated with speech therapy.
Speech therapy is the most effective treatment for both children and adults with apraxia. A certified speech therapist will create a treatment plan based on each person’s unique needs. Speech therapy starts with an assessment of a person’s speech, whether they’re struggling with sounds in single words, phrases, or longer sentences.
Based on this evaluation, the therapist sets individual goals that are clear, measurable, and tailored to the person’s current skill level.
Because apraxia affects the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate speech, speech therapy often includes lots of support and cueing to help the person say words clearly. This might include:
Visual cues, like showing how to move the mouth or using pictures to guide sound production
Tactile cues, such as gently touching the lips to help form certain sounds, like /m/
Auditory feedback, where the person listens to themselves speak and works on hearing what sounds correct or needs improvement
“The goal over time is for the person to need fewer cues and become more independent with their speech,” Irazoque explains. The therapist will track progress closely and adjust the level of support as needed.
With consistent practice and guidance, people with apraxia can make great strides in their communication skills and confidence.
How often is speech therapy needed for apraxia?
If your child or loved one has apraxia, you may be wondering how often they need speech therapy to make progress. Because apraxia is a motor speech disorder, it requires frequent and consistent practice to improve.
Apraxia affects how the brain plans and controls mouth movements for speech. Learning new speech patterns takes time, repetition, and support. That’s why regular therapy is so important.
Most speech-language pathologists recommend at least three sessions per week for children with apraxia of speech. Irazoque explains that this helps build momentum and reinforces new motor patterns. Adults with apraxia can also benefit from multiple weekly sessions.
In fact, research shows that shorter but more frequent sessions are often the most effective. For example, 3 to 5 sessions of 15 to 30 minutes each week can lead to better outcomes than one long session.
Whether you're supporting a child or an adult, regular speech therapy can make a big difference in learning to speak more clearly and with confidence.
Alternate forms of communication for people with apraxia
Every person with apraxia is unique. Just like their symptoms may look different, the way they learn to communicate can vary, too. Some people make steady progress with speech. Others may need additional ways to express themselves, especially early in their journey.
Even though apraxia is not a disability, it is a motor speech disorder that can make spoken communication difficult. That’s why alternative forms of communication can be so helpful.
Some common tools include:
Sign language
A notebook with pictures or written words
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, such as a communication board or a tablet that speaks when buttons are pressed
In speech therapy, people with apraxia can learn to use these tools in daily life. While we often think of communication as speaking, it comes in many forms. And all forms of communication are valid.
Using tools like AAC doesn’t mean someone won’t learn to speak. “In fact, these tools can support speech development, lower frustration, and build confidence,” Irazoque says. “They give people a way to express their wants, needs, and thoughts, and that can be life-changing.”
AAC devices and other tools may not be needed forever. But for many people with apraxia, they’re an important part of the journey toward clearer, more confident communication.
Support and accommodations at school for children with apraxia
As a parent or caregiver, you are your child’s best advocate. You know them better than anyone else, and that makes you the perfect person to speak up for their needs.
Even though apraxia is not technically a disability, it can still affect your child’s ability to participate in school activities. There are school-based supports and legal protections that can help.
Here are two common options:
Individualized Education Plan/Program (IEP)
An IEP is a legal document created for children who qualify for special education services. It outlines the child’s specific goals and the support they need to reach them. An IEP is developed by a team that includes teachers, speech therapists, and you, the parent or caregiver. It may include services like speech therapy, changes to the classroom environment, or other helpful accommodations.
504 plan
A 504 plan is another option for students who don’t qualify for an IEP but still need some support. A 504 plan comes from a civil rights law that protects children with learning or physical challenges. It might provide things like extra time on tests or seating close to the teacher.
Both plans aim to give children the tools they need to succeed in school. They just follow different laws and processes.
You don’t need to be a legal expert to advocate for your child (even if it sometimes feels that way!). But learning about your child’s rights under special education law can be empowering. The organization Apraxia Kids offers great resources to help you get started.
How much progress can someone with apraxia make?
Remember: There is effective treatment for apraxia! While speech therapists can’t determine exactly how much progress a person will make, speech therapy sets people up for the most success possible. Even if communication looks a little different for a while–less talking, more signing or using a communication device–that’s OK! There is no one “right” way to communicate. The goal is successful communication, no matter what that looks like.
How Expressable can help
It can be overwhelming to navigate speech challenges, especially when they affect everyday life. But support is available, and real progress is possible.
At Expressable, we specialize in helping both children and adults with apraxia of speech build clearer communication and more confidence. Our services include:
Online speech therapy from licensed, experienced professionals
Personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs
Practical strategies and tools for caregivers
Flexible scheduling that works for busy families
You can learn more in our treatment guides for childhood apraxia of speech and acquired apraxia.
Ready to take the next step? Start with our free communication screener or get matched with a licensed speech therapist today. Let’s work together to help you or your child communicate with confidence and ease.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between apraxia as a disorder and a disability?
A disorder refers to a medical or neurological condition, like apraxia of speech. A disability is a legal classification used to determine eligibility for certain services or accommodations. Apraxia is a disorder, but it can qualify for disability-related services in school if it impacts learning or communication.
Does apraxia qualify for disability?
Apraxia of speech is not classified as a disability under most legal systems. It is a motor speech disorder that affects how the brain plans and coordinates speech movements. However, it can lead to communication challenges that may require speech therapy and school-based support, such as an IEP or 504 plan.
Do kids with apraxia eventually talk?
Many children with apraxia of speech can learn to talk with the help of frequent, consistent speech therapy. Progress may be slower than with other speech disorders, but every small gain is a step forward. Some children go on to speak clearly. Others may still have some small differences in how they speak. In rare cases, a child may need to use other ways to communicate, such as pictures or devices, for the long term.
Should I get my child tested for apraxia?
If your child struggles to form words clearly, changes how they say words from day to day, or seems frustrated trying to talk, it’s worth reaching out. You can take our free screener or get matched with a speech therapist to find out what kind of support might help.
Key takeaways
Apraxia is not classified as a disability under most legal or medical systems. It is a motor speech disorder.
Apraxia affects the way a person’s brain plans and coordinates the movements of their mouth, lips, and tongue. This can make it hard to speak clearly.
Alternative forms of communication, such as sign language, picture boards, or AAC devices, can be helpful for some people with apraxia.
Even though apraxia is not a disability, children may qualify for school-based supports such as an IEP or 504 plan.
Frequent, consistent speech therapy is the best treatment for both children and adults with apraxia.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
