Types of Apraxia - New to the Group

[Guest guest]

Hi - My 15 year old son , was diagnosed with " significant " apraxia

at age 5. In his case, apraxia affects more than just speech. He is not

able to make his mouth, hands or eyes do what his brain is thinking. In

short - he has multiple learning issues, difficulty with fine and gross

motor tasks and articulation problems. I have never seen anyone else

with his type of " disability " , although I have seen many kids with all

types of special needs. He is is not considered cognitively impaired or

autistic, but he has been diagnosed with PDD, NOS. He is " severely

learning disabled " . He is very talkative, but he perseverates. He still

cannot do many types of things independently. He is very social, but

cannot keep pace with peers' speech so he's either silly or shy. He

knows the forms of letters and numbers. He has a great vocabulary. He

reads, but has huge problems with tracking. His comprehension and memory

are excellent, but he cannot write. He loves books, and knows what he

wants to say and write.

I'm wondering of anyone has a child with a similar diagnosis or set of

isssues.

My understanding is that apraxia has several different forms, including:

Limb-kinetic apraxia - inability to make precise or exactmovements with

a finger, an arm or a leg.

Ideomotor apraxia - inability to carry out a command from thebrain to

mimic limb or head movements performed or suggested by others.

Conceptual apraxia - a moreprofound malfunctioning in which the function

of tools is no longerunderstood.

Ideational apraxia is the inability to create a plan for a specific

movement.

Buccofacial apraxia - inability to coordinate and carry out facial and

lip movements such aswhistling, winking, coughing etc on command.

Constructional apraxia - affects the person's ability to draw or

copy simple diagrams or to construct simple figures.

Oculomotor apraxia - patients find it difficult to move their eyes.

Apraxia of Speech - a motor speech disorder. Apraxia of speech may also

be called verbal apraxia,developmental apraxia of speech, or verbal

dyspraxia. Difficulty programming and planningspeech movements.

Bonnie Mc