Speech Therapy for Apraxia & Motor Speech Disorders
in Menlo Park & San Jose, CA
Clearer Communication Starts Here
Whether you’re a parent concerned about your child’s speech clarity or an adult struggling to pronounce certain sounds, speech therapy can help. At Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services, we provide expert treatment for motor speech disorders and apraxia that empowers clients of all ages to communicate clearly and confidently.
What Are Motor Speech Disorders?
A motor speech disorder occurs when a person has difficulty planning the specific speech sounds they want to make, and/or coordinating the muscle movements needed to make those sounds. These challenges can make their speech sound unclear, slurred, or like it requires much effort to speak.
What Is Apraxia?
Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that affects the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech. People with apraxia know what they want to say, but they struggle with directing their mouth and tongue to create the right sounds in the correct order.
How Does Speech Therapy Help with Motor Speech Disorders & Apraxia?
Speech therapy helps with these conditions by identifying the specific sounds and motor patterns that are challenging and teaching clients how to produce them accurately.
Therapy will focus on improving speech sound production and motor planning skills through targeted exercises, consistent practice, and expert support.
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Who Can Benefit from Speech Therapy for Motor Speech Disorders & Apraxia?
Speech therapy may help if you or your child experiences:
- Speech that is hard to understand
- Inconsistent speech sound errors
- Trouble imitating sounds or words
- Limited vocabulary
- Speech that is too fast or too slow
- Speech that is too loud or too quiet
- Frequent frustration when trying to speak
- Speech that doesn’t improve with age
- Weak or uncoordinated oral muscles (lips, tongue, throat)
- “Groping” with the lips or tongue, or visible effort when speaking
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Why Choose Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services?
Since 1978, Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services has been trusted across the Bay Area for high-quality, compassionate care. Our team of speech-language pathologists brings decades of combined experience to your treatment plan, and several of our clinicians are PROMPT certified.
We work collaboratively with families, educators, and healthcare providers to ensure consistent progress. We are committed to helping every client express themselves with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common signs of apraxia or a motor speech disorder?
Common signs of apraxia or motor speech disorders may include difficulty coordinating the movements of the lips and tongue needed for speech, inconsistent speech errors, trouble imitating words or sounds, difficulty putting sounds and syllables together in the correct order, or speech that is hard for others to understand. Some individuals may know what they want to say but struggle to consistently produce clear speech movements.
Children with childhood apraxia of speech may also have delayed speech development, limited sound combinations, or increased frustration when trying to communicate. At Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services (PASTS), our speech-language pathologists provide individualized evaluations and therapy to help support clearer, more functional communication skills.
How is apraxia different from an articulation or speech delay?
Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that affects the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech. In contrast, an articulation disorder typically involves difficulty producing specific speech sounds correctly, while a speech delay generally refers to slower speech development without the same motor planning difficulties. Speech delays and articulation disorders are not typically related to how the brain plans speech movements, whereas apraxia specifically involves the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech.
Individuals with apraxia may produce inconsistent speech errors, have difficulty sequencing sounds and words, or struggle more with longer or unfamiliar words. At PASTS, our speech-language pathologists evaluate each client’s speech patterns carefully to better understand the underlying communication challenges and develop an individualized treatment plan based on their specific needs.
Can speech therapy help both children and adults with motor speech challenges?
Yes. Speech therapy may help both children and adults who experience motor speech challenges related to apraxia, dysarthria, neurological conditions, developmental differences, or other communication disorders. Therapy is individualized based on the person’s age, communication goals, speech abilities, and daily communication needs.
At PASTS, our speech-language pathologists focus on helping clients improve speech clarity, motor planning, coordination, and overall communication effectiveness. Therapy may also support confidence, functional communication, and participation in school, work, social interactions, and everyday activities. The goal is to help clients communicate more comfortably and successfully in real-life situations.
What does therapy for apraxia typically focus on?
Therapy for apraxia typically focuses on improving the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate the mouth movements needed to say sounds and words clearly and in the correct order for easier communication. Sessions may include repeated practice of sounds, syllables, words, phrases, and speech movement patterns to help strengthen motor planning skills and increase speech intelligibility.
At PASTS, therapy is individualized based on each client’s communication needs, strengths, and goals. Our speech-language pathologists use evidence-based therapy techniques while keeping sessions functional, supportive, and engaging. The overall goal is to help clients build more consistent and effective communication skills that carry over into everyday interactions.
How can parents support a child with apraxia between therapy sessions?
Parents and caregivers can play an important role in supporting communication development between therapy sessions. At PASTS, our speech-language pathologists may provide home practice activities, communication strategies, and recommendations that fit naturally into daily routines and interactions.
Consistent practice, patience, and positive encouragement can help reinforce speech motor learning over time. Families may support progress by modeling speech clearly, giving children extra time to respond, practicing target words or phrases, and creating opportunities for successful communication throughout the day. Our goal is to help families feel supported while encouraging meaningful communication growth in everyday life.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
If you or your child is struggling to speak clearly, we’re here to help. Contact Peninsula Associates Speech Therapy Services today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced clinicians. We’ll work together to create a treatment plan that supports clear, confident communication.