Pediatric Speech Therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
in Newport Beach & Torrance, CA
Does your child know what they want to say, but their words are often hard to understand, even for familiar listeners? Or their words don’t come out clearly and consistently despite their best efforts? Ongoing difficulty forming words or being understood may be a sign of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), a condition that affects how the brain organizes the movements needed for speech.
At Stepping Stones Therapy Inc., our pediatric speech therapists help your child build clearer, more intelligible speech through meaningful, functional words that support real-life communication and confidence in everyday life.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
CAS is a neurological speech disorder that makes it difficult for your child’s brain to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speaking. Even though your child’s lips, tongue, and jaw are strong, they may have trouble working together to produce sounds clearly and consistently.
This can make it frustrating for your child to express themselves, especially when they know what they want to say but cannot get the words out the way they intend.
Signs Your Child May Be Experiencing Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Your child may be showing signs of CAS if they:
- Use fewer speech sounds than expected for their age
- Pause or get “stuck” when trying to say words
- Become harder to understand as words or sentences get longer
- Use unusual or effortful mouth movements when speaking
- Say the same word differently each time
- Struggle to start or finish familiar words
How Speech Therapy Helps with Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Because CAS affects how the brain plans the movements needed for speech, it’s important for your child to work with a speech therapist experienced in treating this condition.
At Stepping Stones Therapy Inc., therapy sessions are engaging, structured, and tailored to your child’s unique needs. Through guided, repetitive practice, your child learns how to coordinate the movements needed for producing intelligible speech, helping them form the movements needed for sounds and use words more consistently.
Over time, your child can begin to speak more clearly, express themselves with less frustration, and participate more comfortably in conversations at home, at school, and with friends.
Why Choose Stepping Stones Therapy Inc.
For nearly 20 years, Stepping Stones Therapy Inc. has provided high-quality speech therapy to children with CAS in the Newport Beach and Torrance, CA, areas. With expertise in complex communication needs, our therapists create individualized treatment plans that focus on your child’s unique strengths, challenges, and goals.
Through supportive, play-based sessions, we help your child build the skills and confidence they need to communicate clearly so they can feel heard and understood.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
If you would like to learn more about how Stepping Stones Therapy Inc. can help your child with CAS, call (949) 955-0010 (Newport Beach), (310) 921-8797 (Torrance), email admin@steppingstonestherapy.org, or fill out our online contact form to schedule an evaluation. We look forward to helping your child find their voice and enjoy communicating without frustration.