Are you aware of the term “Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia(DVD)?” Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD) is called as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Some may also term it as Development Apraxia of Speech (DAS). This occurs when a child faces problems in uttering sounds, syllables and words. Through this blog we will try to explain the facts relating to Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD) and how it could be treated.

Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia

What is Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia?

When a child has difficulty in saying sounds, syllables and words, it is called as Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD) of speech. The problem is not on account of any paralysis or weaknesses of muscles. This problem occurs because the child’s brain is unable to coordinate the different parts of the body needed to produce speech. It has been seen that children who suffer from this problem have the ability to understand speech but face problems while speaking. Through this blog we will try to explain the facts and treatment of DVD.

Causes of DVD:

The exact cause for DVD is not known. DVD is a neurological disorder. Some studies suggest that genetic disorder can cause this problem. It has been observed that children who suffer from this problem may have a family history of communication disorders.

Symptoms of DVD:

Symptoms of DVD may vary from one child to another. If you observe that your child speaks at a later age then it may be a symptom of DVD. The child faces difficulty to pronounce syllables together. Thus pronouncing words becomes difficult for the child. A baby owing to problem may babble less. The child may find it difficult saying long or complex words. He or she may repeatedly attempt to pronounce the same words. The child may make incorrect inflections or stresses on certain sounds or words. The child may use nonverbal communication more. The child may distort vowel sounds; omit consonants at the beginning and end of words.

Treatment for DVD:

Children suffering from Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia would not be able to overcome the problem on their own. So if the initial symptoms of DVD are observed in your child you must immediately visit the Speech Clinic. You must consult a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), also called the Speech Therapist for a solution. Different people respond differently to treatment. Recovery from Verbal Dyspraxia depends on the severity of the problem. It also depends on how long the child has been suffering from the problem. It has been observed the sooner the Speech Therapy is started the more beneficial it is for the patient. Overcoming the problem may at times be frustrating both for the parents as well as the children. Yet you need to be patient. Consistent practice and repetition are important and necessary for helping children suffering from DVD. As a parent you must provide the right environment to the child. This will help him or her to recover from the problem faster. Speech plus is a leading clinic for speech related disorders. The expert team of Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) at Speech Plus can help you to treat your child with Speech Therapy quickly. So in case your child is suffering from DVD please get in touch with Speech Plus at the earliest.