Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

When treating a child with apraxia, what aspect of treatment should be emphasized?

1. Fluency and rate of speech production

2. Corrective feedback on all productions

3. Consistency in production with different stimuli

4. Repeated practice and motor planning sequences

The correct answer is: Repeated practice and motor planning sequences

When treating a child with apraxia, emphasizing repeated practice and motor planning sequences is crucial because apraxia is characterized by difficulties with the motor planning and coordination required for speech production. Children with apraxia struggle to translate their thoughts into precise movements of the tongue, lips, and jaw that are necessary for producing speech sounds. Repeated practice helps to engrain these motor sequences in a child's memory, facilitating smoother and more accurate speech production over time. This approach reinforces the pathways and processes involved in speech execution, enabling the child to develop the necessary skills to produce longer and more complex utterances with increased ease. By focusing on motor planning sequences, therapists can target specific articulatory movements and sequences that the child struggles with, promoting overall improvement in their speech abilities. Therefore, prioritizing repeated practice and the development of motor patterns is essential in effectively addressing the challenges associated with apraxia.