7. Groping for Sounds: The Physical Struggle to Speak
In children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, one may occasionally observe physical signs of their struggle to speak. This symptom, often referred to as ‘groping,’ involves visible attempts to position the articulators (lips, tongue, jaw) correctly to produce a desired sound or word.
Groping behaviors often look like the child is searching for the correct mouth position to make a certain sound. They might make several attempts to say a sound or word, with each attempt involving noticeable adjustments in their mouth positioning.
For instance, a child might try to say ‘mom,’ but their lips might initially come together as if to make a /b/ sound. They might then adjust their lip position and try again, eventually getting to the /m/ sound after several attempts.
It’s important to note that groping is not a deliberate behavior. Rather, it’s a physical manifestation of the child’s difficulty with motor planning. Despite their knowledge of how a word should sound, they struggle with executing the precise series of movements needed to produce that sound or word.
While groping can make speech production a slower and more laborious process for children with CAS, it also provides visible evidence of their struggle. This can aid in the diagnosis process and also help parents, caregivers, and teachers better understand the child’s speech difficulties. (7)
