What is Apraxia?
Apraxia is the difficulty in making learned and purposeful movements, even though the motor, sensory, or coordination functions are good..
It is a neurological condition.
Milder forms of apraxia are known as dyspraxia.
It is a motor disorder caused by damage to the posterior parietal cortex or the corpus callosum of brain.
The desire and the capacity to move are present but the person simply cannot execute the act.
Causes
Brain tumor
Neurodegenerative illness
Dementia
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Hydrocephalus
Types of Apraxia
Acquired Apraxia | Childhood Apraxia |
People lose the speech-making abilities they once possessed. It is acquired after birth | It is present from birth, and it affects a child's ability to form sounds and words. Children with speech apraxia often have far greater abilities to understand speech than to express themselves with spoken words. |
Causes are stroke, head injury, brain tumor,dementia,etc | Experts do not yet understand what causes childhood apraxia of speech. Some scientists believe that it results from signaling problems between the brain and the muscles used for speaking. |
Other types are:
1.) Limb-kinetic apraxia- inability to use a finger, arm, or leg to make precise and coordinated movements.
2.) Ideomotor apraxia- Difficulty in following a verbal command to copy the movements of others or follow suggestions for movements.
3.) Conceptual Apraxia- People with conceptual apraxia are also unable to perform tasks that involve more than one step.
4.) Ideational Apraxia- Having difficulty to plan a particular movement. They may find it hard to follow a sequence of movements, such as getting dressed or bathing.
5.) Buccofascial Apraxia- People with buccofacial apraxia, or facial-oral apraxia, are unable to make movements with the face and lips on command.
6.) Constructional Apraxia- People with constructional apraxia are unable to copy, draw, or construct basic diagrams or figures.
7.) Oculomotor Apraxia- Oculomotor apraxia affects the eyes. People with this type of apraxia have difficulty making eye movements on command.
8.) Verbal Apraxia- People with verbal or oral apraxia find it challenging to make the movements necessary for speech. They may have problems producing sounds and understanding rhythms of speech.
Gaze apraxia
There are also other types like the limb apraxia, ocular apraxia, mirror apraxia, dressing apraxia, gaze apraxia, etc.
Ideomotor apraxia
Can physical therapy be of any help?
Yes, We can help you get better by the approaches follow.
Physical Therapy management
1. Remedial approach:
In the remediation of apraxia, it is advised that the therapist speak slowly and use the shortest possible sentences.
One command should be given at a time, and the second command should not be given until the first task is completed.
When teaching a new task, it should be broken down into its smaller parts.
One component is taught at a time, physically guiding the patient through the task if necessary. It should be completed in precisely the same manner each time.
When all the individual units are mastered, an attempt to combine them should be made.
A great deal of repetition may be necessary.
Family members must be advised to use the exact approach found to be successful in the clinic.
Performing activities in as normal an environment as possible is also helpful.
Using the sensorimotor approach, multiple sensory inputs are used on the affected body parts to enhance the production of appropriate motor responses.
2. Compensatory approach:
Strategy training involves teaching the patient compensatory techniques to overcome the apraxia such as use of pictures in the correct sequence to support ADL skills.
3. Activities to improve coordination and balance can be incorporated.
4. Strategy training for daily activities . This involves teaching specific strategies to overcome the difficulties that the patient experiences.
5. Gesture training (relearning gestures)
6. Direct ADL training ( relearning or learning new ways to perform – daily tasks
We, at Valley Healing Hands, Brownsville, Texas provide the best Physical therapy, Speech therapy and Occupational therapy services for Apraxia. We are the best in town; our therapists are highly skilled and deeply motivated to give the best to our patients. They will assess you and prescribe a customized routine that suits best for your current condition. Our patients are completely satisfied with our services and you can learn about us here and get connected to us here. Our patients love us, you too will!!!
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