Apraxia of Speech Therapy in Perth

What is Apraxia of Speech?

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that affects a person’s ability to plan and program the movements needed for clear speech. The speech muscles may be able to move, but the brain has difficulty coordinating the timing, sequencing, and precision of movements required to produce sounds and words accurately.

Apraxia of speech can occur in:

• Children (commonly referred to as Childhood Apraxia of Speech – CAS), and

• Adults, often following stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other neurological conditions.

At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists provide assessment and therapy for apraxia of speech, with intervention tailored to the individual’s needs, goals, and everyday communication demands.

Signs and Symptoms of Apraxia of Speech

Apraxia of speech can look different from person to person. Common features may include:

• Inconsistent speech errors across repeated attempts (a word may be said differently each time)

• Sound distortions (sounds may be imprecise or “not quite right”)

• Difficulty transitioning smoothly between sounds and syllables (speech may sound choppy or segmented)

• Groping behaviours (visible effort to find the right mouth shape or sound)

• Slow rate with frequent pauses, restarts, or revisions

• Increased difficulty with longer or more complex words and sentences

• Speech may be clearer with automatic phrases (e.g., “thank you”) than with novel or longer utterances

If you notice these signs in yourself or your child, a speech pathology assessment can help clarify what’s happening and guide the next steps. A thorough assessment is important because apraxia can co-occur with, or look similar to, other speech and language difficulties (e.g., dysarthria, phonological disorder, or language disorder).

How Speech Pathology Can Help Apraxia of Speech

Therapy for apraxia of speech is typically motor-based, meaning it focuses on improving the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate speech movements through structured practice and principles of motor learning.

Management is individualised and may include:

• High-frequency practice of speech movement sequences to build motor planning skills

• Structured cueing (visual, auditory, and/or tactile prompts when clinically appropriate) to support accurate production

• Progressive practice that moves from single sounds → syllables → words → phrases → conversation

• Feedback strategies (e.g., clinician feedback, recordings, or visual feedback) to support accuracy and self-monitoring

• Functional communication training, focusing on what the person needs to say day-to-day

Therapy is planned to be achievable and sustainable, with monitoring for fatigue and ensuring practice remains safe and helpful.

AAC Support (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

For some people—especially when speech is very difficult—AAC can be a valuable support. AAC may include:

• Key-word signs

• Picture-based communication supports

• Communication apps or dedicated devices

AAC can be used as a temporary bridge while speech develops, or as a longer-term support depending on the individual’s needs. The goal is always functional, reliable communication.

Why Early Support Helps (Especially for CAS)

For children with CAS, early and consistent support is often recommended. Apraxia can impact:

• Speech clarity and intelligibility

• Participation at school and in play

• Confidence and social connection

• Frustration levels and behaviour (when a child can’t say what they want to say)

For adults with AOS after stroke or brain injury, timely therapy may support recovery, develop compensatory strategies, and improve functional communication in everyday life.

Who Can Benefit from Apraxia of Speech Therapy?

Apraxia of speech therapy may help:

Children (CAS)

• Children with very limited speech or who are difficult to understand

• Children with inconsistent errors and difficulty copying words

• Children whose speech is significantly worse in longer words/sentences

Adults (AOS)

• Adults recovering from stroke, TBI, or other neurological conditions

• Adults experiencing effortful, inconsistent, or “choppy” speech

• Adults needing practical strategies to communicate more effectively day-to-day

Apraxia of Speech vs Other Speech Disorders

It’s important to differentiate apraxia of speech from other speech sound difficulties:

• Articulation disorders: difficulty producing specific sounds due to placement or motor execution (e.g., /s/ or /r/)

• Phonological disorders: patterned sound errors (e.g., leaving off final sounds consistently)

• Dysarthria: speech changes related to weakness, tone, or coordination difficulties, often affecting voice, breath support, and clarity

Apraxia of speech is different because the main issue is speech motor planning/programming—the person generally knows what they want to say, but has difficulty coordinating the movement plan to say it clearly. Apraxia can also occur alongside dysarthria and/or language difficulties, which is why assessment is important.

Apraxia of Speech Assessment at Palms

A speech pathology assessment may include:

• Case history (developmental or medical background)

• Detailed speech sound and motor speech assessment

• Observation of consistency, transitions, prosody (speech rhythm), and complexity effects

• Discussion of functional communication needs and goals

From there, we’ll recommend an evidence-informed plan tailored to the individual.

Book an Apraxia of Speech Assessment in Perth (Malaga & Noranda)

If you’re looking for apraxia of speech support in Perth, including Malaga and Noranda, our speech pathology team is here to help. Contact Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health to book an assessment and begin a clear, practical plan to support speech and communication.

Speech Therapy Services in Perth for Children & Adults

Speech Therapy (also called Speech Pathology) focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication and swallowing difficulties. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists support children, teens, and adults to improve speech clarity, language skills, social communication, voice and fluency and swallowing safety.

How Can Speech Therapy Help You?

Speech therapy can help with a wide range of concerns, including:

• Speech delays in children: Supporting speech sound development, clarity, and age-appropriate communication.

• Speech sound disorders: Including articulation (sound production) and phonological (sound patterns) difficulties.

•  Language disorders: Helping with both receptive language (understanding) and expressive language (using words and sentences).

• Swallowing and feeding difficulties (dysphagia): Supporting people who have difficulty swallowing safely due to conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions.

• Social communication differences: Supporting conversational skills, turn-taking, perspective-taking, and understanding non-verbal communication.

•  Stuttering and fluency disorders: Helping clients manage fluency, reduce effort/tension, and build confidence in communication.

Speech Therapy Services We Provide

Paediatric Speech Therapy

• Paediatric speech therapy supports children with speech, language, communication, and early literacy needs using evidence-based and child-friendly approaches. Sessions may be play-based (especially for younger children), while still being structured and goal-directed.

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Speech sound development (clarity and intelligibility)

  2. Language delays and developmental language disorder

  3. Social communication support

  4. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) where appropriate

  5. Early literacy foundations (e.g., phonological awareness)

Adult Speech Therapy

• Adult speech therapy supports adults with communication and swallowing needs related to neurological conditions, injury, medical events, or age-related changes. Therapy is practical, functional, and designed around everyday participation (home, work, community).

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Communication changes after stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or neurological illness

  2. Dysarthria and motor speech changes

  3. Cognitive-communication difficulties (attention, memory, organisation impacting communication)

  4. Voice therapy where indicated

  5. Dysphagia support and mealtime strategies

NDIS Speech Therapy Services

• NDIS speech therapy is available for self-managed and plan-managed participants. Therapy may focus on functional communication goals, speech clarity, social interaction and participation, and AAC support where required. We collaborate with participants, families, support coordinators, schools, and relevant providers to support practical, meaningful outcomes.

Speech Therapy for Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)

• Dysphagia (swallowing) support helps when swallowing difficulties affect hydration, nutrition, safety and confidence with eating and drinking. Our speech pathologists can complete clinical assessments (as appropriate), provide strategies for safer swallowing, recommend targeted exercises when indicated, and support shared-care referral pathways with GPs/ENT/medical teams when needed.

• Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Speech Therapy?

• Experienced Speech Pathologists: Skilled in paediatric and adult communication and swallowing support.

• NDIS Provider (self- and plan-managed): Therapy is aligned to participant goals and everyday function.

• Family-Centred Approach: We involve parents, carers, and supports where appropriate so strategies carry over into real life.

• Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Care: We work alongside our broader allied health team when integrated support is beneficial.

Sensory Room and Kids Therapy Gym

• Our sensory room and kids therapy gym can support therapy goals through a motivating, functional environment—particularly helpful for children who benefit from movement-based learning and sensory regulation strategies. These spaces may be used when clinically relevant to support engagement, attention, participation, and goal progress.

Locations

• We offer speech pathology services in Perth, including our Malaga and Noranda clinics.

Australian Resources for Speech & Communication Disorders

For more information about articulation disorders, here are some helpful Australian resources:

• Speech Pathology Australia – Information and resources about speech disorders.
  www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

• Raising Children Network – Guide to speech disorders and child development.
  www.raisingchildren.net.au

• Australian Government Healthdirect – Overview of articulation and speech disorders.
  www.healthdirect.gov.au

• Better Health Channel (Victoria) – Resource for understanding speech therapy and articulation issues.
  www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

• NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) – Information on accessing speech therapy through NDIS.
  www.ndis.gov.au

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.