10. Speech Apraxia – A Motor Challenge in Expressive Aphasia
Expressive Aphasia often co-occurs with a condition known as apraxia of speech, adding another dimension to the communication difficulties experienced. Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder where individuals struggle with the planning and programming of speech movements. It’s important to clarify that this is not due to muscle weakness or paralysis but a problem in the brain’s speech motor planning area.
In real-world terms, a person with apraxia of speech knows what they want to say but struggles to get their muscles to move in the right way to say it. They may have difficulty saying words correctly, distort or substitute sounds, or say something different than they intended to. Their speech might be slow, with lots of pauses as they grapple to produce the sounds and words they want.
Consider trying to tell a loved one about your day. You know what you want to share, the words you want to use. But as you try to speak, you can’t get your lips, tongue, or jaw to move correctly to form the words.
You may stumble over sounds, repeat syllables, or pause as you struggle to get the words out. This difficulty can be incredibly frustrating and exhausting, making conversations more challenging and perhaps less enjoyable.
Despite the challenges presented by apraxia of speech, there are various therapeutic approaches that can help. These can include techniques to improve the coordination of speech muscles, rhythm and melody therapy, or using augmentative and alternative communication devices. The support of understanding communication partners is again of immense value. (10)
