APRAXIA FACT: Are There Tests to Diagnose Apraxia of Speech? There is not a single test or procedure that is used to diagnose apraxia of speech. Diagnosis is complicated by the fact that speech-language pathologists have different opinions about which symptoms indicate developmental apraxia. Most experts, though, look for the presence of multiple, common apraxia symptoms. They may assess a patients ability to repeat a word multiple times. Or they may assess whether a person can recite a list of words that are increasingly more difficult, such as play, playful, playfully. A speech-language pathologist may interact with a child to assess which sounds, syllables, and words the child is able to make and understand. The pathologist will also examine the childs mouth, tongue, and face for any structural problems that might be causing apraxia symptoms. When diagnosing apraxia, experts may look for the presence of other symptoms. For instance, they may look for weakness or difficulties with language comprehension. Both of these are indicative of other conditions and their presence would help rule out apraxia. For people with possible acquired apraxia, an MRI of the brain may be useful to determine the extent and location of any brain damage. Typically, a diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech cannot be made before a childs second birthday. Before this time, most children are unable to understand or perform the tasks needed to determine the presence of apraxia.
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000
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