Childhood Apraxia of Speech Therapy in Virginia Beach: A Parent’s Guide
If you’re here, you’re probably wondering one big thing:
“Why is my child trying so hard to talk… but the words just won’t come out clearly?”
If you’ve been googling… (we’ve all been there), you may have come across the term childhood apraxia of speech and if so, it can feel scary, confusing, and heavy all at once.
The good news is… you’re in the right place.
At Resolute Therapy Collaborative, we specialize in childhood apraxia of speech therapy in Virginia Beach, and this guide will walk you through what apraxia is, what signs to look for, and what speech therapy should look like for children with motor speech differences.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is not a language delay and it’s not a muscle weakness. It is a label for a speech sound disorder where the child is having difficulty with motor planning of speech.
That means your child:
Knows what they want to say
May understand language well
But has difficulty coordinating the mouth movements needed for speech
Words may sound:
Inconsistent
Choppy or effortful
Different every time they’re said
This can be incredibly frustrating for kids and parents.
How Is Apraxia Different From Other Speech Delays?
This is where many families get stuck and why progress sometimes feels slow before the right diagnosis.
With apraxia:
Speech errors are inconsistent
Children often struggle more with longer words
Progress doesn’t follow a typical articulation pattern
Because apraxia is a motor speech disorder, it needs a motor-based speech therapy approach not a traditional language focused speech therapy approach.
How Speech Therapy for Apraxia Should Look
Speech therapy for childhood apraxia of speech looks different than regular language therapy. If your child is currently in therapy and you suspect apraxia, it’s important to consider the therapy approach being used. If sessions focus primarily on modeling language without encouraging your child to attempt imitation, their motor learning needs may not be fully supported.
At Resolute Therapy Collaborative, therapy is:
✔ Play-Based and Child-Led
Because learning happens best when a child feels safe, regulated, and engaged.
✔ Motor-Focused
We help children learn how speech feels, not just how it sounds.
✔ High Repetition (Without Pressure)
Children need many successful repetitions embedded naturally into play.
✔ Neuro-Affirming
We honor your child’s communication style, nervous system, and strengths.
This is why families often search for “apraxia speech therapy near me” not all therapy is created equal.
Signs Your Child May Have Apraxia of Speech
Parents are often the first to notice something feels “off.”
Common signs include:
Late first words
Limited sound variety as a baby (infrequent or reduced babbling; limited variety of sounds)
Words that change when they’re said
Difficulty combining sounds
Visible effort when trying to speak
Strong understanding but limited expressive speech
Frustration when communicating
Seeing one sign doesn’t mean apraxia but seeing several is a strong reason to seek an evaluation.
How Speech Therapy for Apraxia Is Different
Effective therapy for childhood apraxia of speech looks different from traditional speech therapy. Because apraxia is a motor planning disorder, children need frequent opportunities to practice sounds and words with support, not just hear them modeled. Therapy is often structured, repetitive, and highly intentional to help the brain learn and refine speech movements. There are 4 main therapy approaches that have the best evidence base for improving speech in children with apraxia. It is really important that the speech therapist helping your child is familiar with one or more of these approaches.
What to Expect From Apraxia Speech Therapy at Resolute Therapy Collaborative
We know how important trust is when choosing a speech therapist.
Here’s what therapy looks like with us:
A Thoughtful, Comprehensive Evaluation
We look at:
Speech motor planning
Consistency of errors
Prosody (rhythm and stress)
Functional communication
Standard articulation tests alone do not capture apraxia and we don’t rely on them alone.
A Personalized Therapy Plan
Each plan is built around:
Your child’s strengths
Functional, meaningful words
Evidence-based motor speech principles
Family Support (Without Overwhelm)
You’ll always understand:
What we’re working on
Why it matters
How to support progress at home in a simple way
When Should You Seek Help?
If you’re wondering whether to “wait and see” …here’s your permission not to.
Early, appropriate therapy for apraxia can:
Reduce frustration
Improve intelligibility
Support literacy development
Build confidence and connection
You don’t need to wait for things to get harder.
Apraxia Speech Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA
If you’re searching for childhood apraxia of speech therapy in Virginia Beach or typing “apraxia speech therapy near me” into Google, we’re here to help.
Resolute Therapy Collaborative provides specialized, play-based, motor-focused speech therapy designed to help children with apraxia find their voice at their pace, with support every step of the way.
This article was written by Kelly Shotts, M.S., CCC-SLP, pediatric speech-language pathologist and owner of Resolute Therapy Collaborative in Virginia Beach, VA.