Infant Apraxia Birth Disorder Symptoms

When you deliver a child, the last thing that you want is for that child to have a birth injury. You spent nine months bringing them into the world, after all. Unfortunately, bad things can happen that will have a negative impact on your child, such as infant apraxia. When this happens, your child may have a motor speech disorder that will affect the way a child talks. Many people think of this as a muscle disorder, but in fact, this disorder classifies as a neurological disorder that comes from the brain. This birth disorder happens because your child suffered a birth injury during delivery.

Birth Injury Resources and Information

How Do Doctors Diagnose It?

You may be wondering what doctors look for when they diagnose infant apraxia. First, the doctor will try to rule out that the child has hearing problems. During this time, your child’s doctor will recommend an evaluation by an audiologist to perform a hearing test and determine if the child has hearing problems. Once they have ruled this out, they will take the child to a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP), who works with infants and toddlers to evaluate if a speech problem is present.

Telltale Signs of This Condition

There are a few signs that are suggestive of apraxia. First, it is important to understand how not all infants and toddlers will be the same. While some people with apraxia may exhibit many symptoms, others will not display symptoms. This is why it is essential for an experienced LSP to evaluate your child. Some of the classic signs that an infant has apraxia include; unable to babble or coo, delayed speaking or no speaking, and difficulty with breastfeeding.

There are a few classic signs with toddlers. For example, they may display troubles when it comes to mimicking your speech. Second, they may often mispronounce words.  While this can be common with children, if you notice it regularly, it could indicate a problem. They also may grunt excessively or point a lot.  The presentation varies among toddlers.

Treatment: How Is It Treated?

When it comes to infant apraxia, the doctor normally sets a goal to help children with simple communication skills. This may be accomplished through a variety of treatment options depending on the severity of the case. Often, children with apraxia are taught how to pronounce the words correctly, and healthcare professionals such as SLP will work with them on their syllables and phrases.

Your child could also have suffered a brain injury that led to a birth condition known as cerebral palsy. When this happens, your child will have trouble with their gross motor skills and fine motor skills. This can have a lifelong impact. As a result,  you may have to seek out financial help if your child happens to have this condition because it can cost you thousands of dollars each year.

Get In Touch With Us

[formidable id=2]