Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Helping Children Find Their Voice with Specialized Motor Speech Therapy
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) can make it difficult for a child to say what they want to say — even when they know exactly what they want to express.
For more than 20 years I’ve specialized in helping children with sCAS (suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech) and CAS develop clear, confident communication using evidence-based, 1:1 guided, playful and family-centered therapy based on the Principles of Motor Learning.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a motor speech disorder in which the brain has trouble planning the movements needed for speech. It is not caused by muscle weakness — instead, the challenge lies in coordinating the lips, tongue, and jaw to form words correctly.
Signs and Symptoms of CAS
Every child is unique, but some common signs include:
- Limited babbling or first words as a toddler
- Inconsistent errors when saying the same word
- Difficulty combining sounds into words
- Groping movements with the mouth while trying to speak
- Trouble imitating words, even when prompted
- Better understanding than ability to speak
If you’re noticing these signs, an early evaluation is the best next step.
Why Early Intervention Matters
The earlier a child with CAS begins therapy, the sooner they can start building the skills for clear, confident speech. Early intervention also helps reduce frustration, boosts social connections, and supports school readiness.
My Approach to CAS Therapy in Louisville, CO
At my practice, CAS therapy is:
Individualized
Tailored to your child’s needs, learning style, and developmental stage.
Evidence-based
Using research-supported motor speech therapy techniques such as DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing) and other proven approaches and based on the Principles of Motor Learning.
Play-based (guided)
Sessions are fun and engaging so your child is motivated to practice.
Family-centered
Parents are involved at every step, with home practice strategies provided.
What to Expect
- Initial Consultation: We’ll discuss your child’s history, challenges, and goals.
- Comprehensive Evaluation: A detailed, child-friendly assessment of speech and language skills.
- Personalized Therapy Plan: Sessions designed to improve speech sound/motor planning, sequencing, coarticulation and clarity.
- Ongoing Support:
Parent coaching, progress updates, and resources for home practice.
Success Stories
"My family will be forever grateful to Nancy. My son started working with Nancy almost two years ago after a few other failed speech attempts. I had a feeling he needed more and found Nancy. After his diagnosis with Childhood Apraxia of Speech I was overwhelmed and scared. Nancy quickly eased all of my fears as for the first time, I watched him make progress. Her approach is truly unmatched. She is kind, patient, incredibly knowledgeable, prepared and always knew exactly what he needed next. My son was always so excited to see Nancy and though the work was clearly difficult for him he thought of his sessions with her as a play date. Now that we are done, he continuously asks to see her and misses her. I cannot thank her enough for the dedication and compassion she showed to my child and for the support, understanding and encouragement she gave me."
Jennifer Powers
"Nancy has been a speech therapist for my 2 children for over 2 years. My son is now 5 and my daughter is 4. When we started with Nancy, my son was not pronouncing any words. He would communicate with sign language or make noises with animation. He was happy and outgoing but unable to use verbal expression even though we had been working with Denver speech therapists. An acquaintance had suggested we consider that he had speech apraxia. We started working with Nancy three times a week for 30-minute sessions. He responded with immediate, positive results. Nancy built a trusting relationship with him using games and speech tools. He was saying words the very first week. We found that my daughter also had apraxia. Nancy started working with her too, with the same results. Both kids are thriving today and have large speech vocabularies. Nancy is still working with them on word formation and sentence structure. Nancy is very knowledgeable in speech apraxia and the symptoms resulting from having it. She has a large set of tools and techniques for working with children of all ages and helping them reach their age level of speaking. She also has a very unique talent for bonding with each child and is able to get them to focus and learn each session."
Amanda Perez
Frequently Asked Questions
How is CAS different from other speech delays?
CAS involves difficulty planning the movements for speech, whereas other delays may be due to sound learning or muscle issues.
How long will my child need therapy?
Every child progresses at their own pace. Some make significant gains in months; others require longer support.
CONTACT ME
Getting Started
If you’re concerned your child may have Childhood Apraxia of Speech, the best first step is an evaluation. I offer appointments at my office in Louisville, CO.
Nancy Sims M.A., CCC-SLP
Certified Speech-Language Pathologist
357 S. McCaslin Blvd., Suite 200
Louisville, CO 80027
(303) 544-2180
nancy@nancysims.net