Dysprhaxia of speech (DAS) is a disorder which negatively affects the ability of a child to accurately produce sounds, syllables, and words. This condition is also known as Aphraxia. Children with this disorder have trouble speaking, including finding the proper words and making the proper sounds. However, the don’t seem to have difficulty with non-speech activities, such as coughing, chewing, laughing, chewing etc.

The cause of dysphraxia of speech is not known, but it is believed it is a defect of the motor neurons which prevents them from sending the proper signals to the brain for correct speaking. This is also believed to be what happens in regular dysphraxia, which causes severe problems in motor skills, and used to be referred to as Clumsy Child Syndrome.

If your child has this disorder, he will need extensive speech therapy during his school years and maybe beyond. He will also probably always talk at least a little bit more slowly than other people. This can make it difficult to have a conversation with him, and is frustrating for the child, because he does understand speech, even if he can’t make the right words come out.

Doctors say that about 10% of people have dysphraxia, but only 2% of them have it restricted only to their speech. Further, the majority of children diagnosed with dysphraxia of all kinds are overwhelmingly males. It is not yet known whether the disorder is genetic or caused by an injury in the womb or at birth. What is known is that the children who have it face a tougher road in life than their peers. This does not, however, mean that the child is mentally retarded or can not lead an independent life.

As dysphraxia of speech requires extensive speech therapy, children will usually get it two to three times a week from the time they start school. The school will usually have an in-house speech therapist for this task. If your child’s school doesn’t have a speech therapist, you’ll have to find private therapy, and if you can start before your child enters school, that will help your child greatly. Even children as young as two years old can benefit from this therapy.

Further, don’t correct or chastise your child at home when he says something incorrectly, as this will lower his self-esteem and increase his sense of shame. Instead, say nothing when he speaks incorrectly, and praise him when he does speak as he should. This will help him want to do better, and will increase his chances of having better speech as an adult.