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A new ASHA position statement and technical report on childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) stipulates that SLPs may make the primary diagnosis and implement treatment programs for CAS. At the Legislative Council's March meeting, the Speech-Language Pathology/Speech Science Assembly approved the practice documents, ASHA's Position Statement and Technical Report on Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
ASHA's new position statement on CAS states:
It is the position of ASHA that apraxia of speech exists as a distinct diagnostic type of childhood (pediatric) speech sound disorder that warrants research and clinical services. A literature review indicates that apraxia of speech occurs in children in three clinical contexts. First, apraxia of speech has been associated causally with known neurological etiologies (e.g., intrauterine stroke, infections, trauma). Second, apraxia of speech occurs as a primary or secondary sign in children with complex neurobehavioral disorders (e.g., genetic, metabolic). Third, apraxia of speech not associated with any known neurological or complex neurobehavioral disorder occurs as an idiopathic neurogenic speech sound disorder.
Use of the term apraxia of speech implies a shared core of speech and prosody features, regardless of time of onset, whether congenital or acquired, or specific etiology. Therefore, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is proposed as a unifying cover term for the study, assessment, and treatment of all presentations of apraxia of speech in childhood. CAS is preferred over alternative terms for this disorder, including developmental apraxia of speech and developmental verbal dyspraxia, which have typically been used to refer only to the idiopathic presentation.
The position statement also clarifies the role of SLPs in diagnosing and treating CAS, stating:
It is the policy of ASHA that the diagnosis and treatment of CAS are the proper purview of certified speech-language pathologists with specialized knowledge in motor learning theory, skills in differential diagnosis of childhood motor speech disorders, and experience with a variety of intervention techniques that may include augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology.
It is the certified speech-language pathologist who is responsible for making the primary diagnosis of CAS, for designing and implementing the individualized and intensive speech-language treatment programs needed to make optimum improvement, and for closely monitoring progress.
Members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Childhood Apraxia of Speech were Lawrence Shriberg (chair), Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann, David Hammer, Rebecca McCauley, and Shelley Velleman. Vice Presidents for Professional Practices in Speech-Language Pathology Celia Hooper (2003?2005) and Brian Shulman (2006?2008) served as the monitoring officers.
For the full text of the documents, visit "Childhood Apraxia of Speech" position statement or technical report.
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