Developmental verbal dyspraxia

There are three significant features that differentiate DVD/CAS from other childhood speech sound disorders. These features are: • "Inconsistent errors on consonants and vowels in repeated productions of syllables and words • Lengthened coarticulatory transitions between sounds and syllables • Inappropriate prosody, especially in the realization of lexical or phrasal stress" Even though DVD/CAS is a developmental disorder, it will not simply disappear when children grow older. Children with this disorder do not follow typical patterns of language acquisition and will need treatment in order to make progress. ==Causes==

DVD/CAS is a motor disorder, which means that the problem is located in the brain and its signals, and not in the mouth. In most cases, the cause is unknown. Possible causes include genetic syndromes and disorders. in both species and individual development. Research regarding the KE family, where half the members of the extended family, over three generations, exhibited heritable developmental verbal dyspraxia, were found to have a defective copy of the FOXP2 gene. and further studies suggest that the FOXP2 gene as well as other genetic issues could explain DVD/CAS. including 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome. New research suggests a role for the sodium channel SCN3A in the development of the perisylvian areas, which maintain key language circuits- Broca and Wernicke Area. Patients with mutations in SCN3A had oral-motor speech disorders. and chromosome translocations involving duplications or deletions. ==Diagnosis==

Developmental verbal dyspraxia can be diagnosed by a speech–language pathologist (SLP) through specific exams that measure oral mechanisms of speech. The oral mechanisms exam involves tasks such as pursing lips, blowing, licking lips, elevating the tongue, and also involves an examination of the mouth. A complete exam also involves observation of the patient eating and talking. Tests such as the Kaufman Speech Praxis test, a more formal examination, are also used in diagnosis. ==Management==

There is no cure for DVD/CAS, but with appropriate, intensive intervention, people with the disorder can improve significantly. using sign language, pictures, tactile cues, visual prompts, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be helpful. McNeill, Gillon, & Dodd studied 12 children ages 4–7 with DVD/CAS who were treated with this approach two times a week for two six-week blocks of time (separated by a six-week withdrawal block). They found positive effects for most of the children in the areas of speech production, phonological awareness, word decoding, letter knowledge, and spelling. These results show that it is clinically productive to target speech production, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, spelling, and reading all at once. This is particularly important since children with DVD/CAS often have continuous problems with reading and spelling, even if their production of speech improves. == See also ==