For Speech and Language Therapists

Developmental verbal dyspraxia is a condition where the child has difficulties in making and co-ordinating the precise movements, which are used in the production of spoken language, although there is no damage to muscles or nerves. (Ripley, Daines and Barrett 1997). 

It has been suggested that therapists consider a label of developmental verbal dyspraxia when they are faced with a child with a speech disorder, who presents as a puzzle. Perhaps they make very slow progress in therapy; perhaps their error pattern is inconsistent or idiosyncratic; perhaps there is evidence of other motor control difficulties i.e. they have generalised dyspraxia or oromotor dyspraxia.

How can you obtain more information on developmental verbal dyspraxia?

Start by looking on this website under: Symptoms /Articulation

Also visit the Apraxia kids website on: http://www.apraxia-kids.org and look under Speech topics for a number of useful articles.

Other sources of Information:

The Dyspraxia Foundation sells two books, which have useful chapters:

Praxis makes Perfect II, chapter 5 �Developmental verbal dyspraxia� by Pam Williams and Juliette Corrin.

Dyspraxia: A Guide for Teachers and Parents by Ripley, Daines and Barrett (1997) Chapter 5 is on speech and language and includes a useful section on feeding.

Pam Williams
Principal Speech and Language Therapist
Tel: 0207-915-1535 


INFORMATION ON OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Association for all speech impaired children (AFASIC)

Helpline: 08453 55 55 77 

Website: www.afasic.org.uk