by Ralph S.

Created on: January 15, 2008

It breaks a parent's heart to learn that his or her child has a disorder such as Down syndrome or epilepsy. Apraxia is just one of those diseases that can be treated if found at an early age. Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects speaking and motor movements (walking, crawling). Compared to other children without the disorder, children with Apraxia have difficult time learning certain tasks that would have otherwise come naturally. There several types of Apraxia:

1) Speech Apraxia- Characterized by the inability to generate speech sounds and often results in stuttering. This type of speech Apraxia is present at birth and affects more boys than girls. The cause is not yet known.

2) Limb-Kinetic Apraxia- Characterized by the loss of hand and finger dexterity.

3) Ideomotor Apraxia- Characterized by the inability to coordinate or initiate with the correct hand or direction. Patients cannot pantomime others correctly and lack timing and sequence in their actions. Caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain.

4) Constructional Apraxia- Characterized by the inability to draw or copy simple diagrams or construct simple figures. Caused by damage to the right cerebral hemisphere of the brain.

5) Oculomotor Apraxia- Characterized by the inability to move eyes horizontally or from side to side. Patients have must track objects with their heads instead of just their eyes. Can be caused by a mutation in the genes and can be treated through an early childhood intervention program

6) Buccofacial Apraxia- Characterized by inability to perform skilled movements with lips, mouth, or tongue on command. This form includes speech Apraxia as a symptom. Caused by brain lesions.

To find out if your child may have any one of these types of Apraxia look to the following list of early warning signs:

- Inability to drink from a straw
- Inability to lice lips
- Excessive drooling
- Limited facial expressions
- Difficulty forming consonant sounds
- Inability to lick food off lips or around mouth
- Inability to pucker or make a kissing sound
- Difficulty with certain food texture

If your child has anyone of these symptoms please call a doctor. Remember the earlier you catch it the better chance you have of treating it.

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