Apraxia
Apraxia is poorly understood neurological condition. People who have it find difficult or impossible to make certain motor movements , even though their muscles are normal.
Milder forms of Apraxia are known as Dyspraxia.
- Apraxia can occur in number of different forms. One form is Orofacial Apraxia. People with Orofacial Apraxia are unable to voluntarily perform certain movements involving facial muscles. For instance, they may not be able to lick their lips or wink. Another form of Apraxia affects a person’s ability to intentionally move arms and legs.
- With Apraxia of speech a person finds it difficult or impossible to move their mouth and tongue to speak. This happens, even though the person has the desire to speak and the mouth and tongue muscles are physically able to form words.
- There are several problems that are associated with Apraxia :
- Making fine, precise movement s with an arm or leg.
- Responding to a verbal command.
- Co-Ordinating activities with multiple related Movements. Such as dressing, eating or bathing.
- Co-Ordinating mouth or speech movement.
- Moving your eyes.
- Treatment may include a team of medical specialists for physical, speech and other therapy to help you carry out every out everyday activities.
- Some people with Apraxia improve significantly with treatment while others show very little improvement.