Table 2–1.
Checklist of Childhood Apraxia of Speech Characteristics
Mark those characteristics observed during evaluation
Speech Characteristics
≈ Token-to-token inconsistency (variations in repeated productions of the
same word)
o Phoneme error variability (phonemes produced differently on different
o Positional variability (phonemes produced correctly only in certain positions
of words)
˜ Contextual limitations (phonemes produced correctly only in certain words or
in certain facilitating coarticulatory contexts)
˜ Atypical errors (phonetic and phonemic errors not commonly observed in
children with articulation or phonological disorders)
˜ Syllable segregation (noticeable within-word gaps between syllables)
˜ Limited phonetic inventory of consonants and vowels
˜ Higher than expected incidence of vowel errors (distortions, substitutions, omissions)
˜ Predominant use of simple syllable shapes
˜ Increased errors as the complexity of the syllable shape increases
˜ Connected speech is more unintelligible than the child’s phonetic inventory or
results on a single-word articulation test suggest
˜ Limited diversity of babbled phonemes before the age of two
˜ Differences in performance of automatic versus volitional speech
˜ Atypical levels of regression (loss of sounds or words)
˜ Poor diadochokinesis (reduced rates and poor coordination)
continues
15
Table 2–1. continued
Nonspeech Motor Characteristics
˜ Possible difficulty (or history of difficulty) with feeding
˜ Possible drooling
˜ Later attainment of motor milestones (e.g., crawling, walking)
˜ Poor fine and gross motor coordination
Suprasegmental Characteristics
˜ Prolonged pauses or breaks between phonemes, syllables, and words
˜ Vocal pitch differences (lack of variation in vocal pitch)
˜
fluctuating)
˜ Loudness differences (lack of variation in vocal loudness)
Linguistic Characteristics
˜ Slow development of speech (late to produce first words)
˜
language also may be delayed
˜
of grammatical morphemes, telegraphic speech)
Educational Characteristics
˜
phonological awareness skills
16