Verbal dyspraxia is a speech difficulty that affects how the brain plans and coordinates the movements needed for clear speech.
If you are here because your child is difficult to understand, or because speaking has always felt effortful for you, it can help to know this: most people with verbal dyspraxia know exactly what they want to say. The difficulty lies in getting the sounds out clearly and consistently.
This is not related to intelligence, effort, or motivation.
Verbal dyspraxia is a speech sound disorder linked to difficulties with motor planning. Motor planning is the process the brain uses to plan, organise and sequence the movements needed for speech.
In verbal dyspraxia, the speech muscles are usually not weak or damaged. The difficulty is with how the brain sends messages to those muscles. [8] This is why speech can sound unclear, inconsistent, or unusually effortful, especially as words get longer or less familiar.
A helpful way to understand it is that the child or adult knows what they want to say, but the pathway between the idea and the spoken word is less efficient.
Different terms are used depending on location and context.
In the UK and Ireland, “verbal dyspraxia” is commonly used
Internationally, you may see “apraxia of speech” or “childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)”
The term “dyspraxia” is also used more broadly to describe developmental coordination disorder (DCD), which affects movement and coordination across the body.
Some people may have both speech and broader coordination differences, but they are not the same thing.
It can be helpful to think of verbal dyspraxia as describing a pattern of speech difficulty, rather than a single fixed label.
The signs often centre around inconsistency and effort in speech.
Common signs include:
Speech may also vary depending on tiredness, stress, or how familiar the situation is.
In children, verbal dyspraxia often becomes noticeable when speech development does not follow expected patterns, or when speech remains unclear over time.
Children may:
Become quieter in group situations, particularly if they are often misunderstood
Children can become caught in a cycle where they try to speak and they are not understood. Speaking feels effortful or frustrating and they begin to speak less in certain situations
This can sometimes be interpreted as a confidence issue, but it often begins with the experience of communication being difficult.
You may also notice:
Toddlers vary widely, so this section focuses on patterns rather than strict milestones.
Early signs may include:
Some children may also show differences in feeding or oral movements, but this is not always present.
School is often where the impact becomes most obvious. School environments place high demands on spoken communication through quick responses, reading aloud, answering questions and speaking to peers in groups.
A child with verbal dyspraxia may:
Without understanding the underlying difficulty, it may be assumed that a child is:
What may be happening instead is that the child is managing a high-effort task in front of their peers.
Supportive approaches often focus on reducing pressure while maintaining participation.
This may include:
Verbal dyspraxia can continue into adulthood. Some adults were identified in childhood, while others may only recognise the pattern later.
Adults may experience:
Verbal dyspraxia can affect confidence, relationships and work, not because of lack of ability, but because communication takes more energy.
Verbal dyspraxia is linked to differences in how the brain plans and coordinates speech movements. It is considered a neurological motor planning difficulty.
It is not caused by poor parenting, lack of stimulation, lack of effort, behavioural issues, or intelligence differences.
In some cases, verbal dyspraxia may occur alongside other developmental differences, such as:
These do not cause verbal dyspraxia, but they can influence how it presents.
The term “dyspraxia” is sometimes used to describe developmental coordination disorder (DCD), which affects movement and coordination more broadly.
Some individuals have both DCD and verbal dyspraxia, but one does not automatically mean the other.
Severity can look different depending on age, context and the demands placed on speech.
Some people have mild verbal dyspraxia. Speech is mostly understood, but certain sounds, longer words, or fast conversation become difficult.
Others have more severe verbal dyspraxia. Speech may be very hard to understand, especially without support, and speaking can take a lot of effort. [3]
Outcomes vary. Many children and adults make meaningful progress with appropriate support and regular practice, but it is rarely an overnight change. [3] [4]
A useful way to frame it is this: the goal is not perfect speech. The goal is communication that works for your life, plus strategies that reduce frustration and increase confidence. [3]
Often, yes.
“Dyspraxia” is a broader term for difficulties with planning movement. “Apraxia” is usually used when those planning difficulties are more specific or more pronounced.
Apraxia of speech refers specifically to difficulty planning the movements needed for speech. It can be present from childhood or acquired later (for example after a brain injury).
Verbal dyspraxia is commonly used in the UK and Ireland to describe this type of speech difficulty in children.
A simple example is a child who can say “banana” clearly one time, then says it differently each time they try again, even though they are trying hard and understand the word. This differs from typical speech development errors where a child makes the same predictable mistake each time.
No. Verbal dyspraxia is not a form of autism.
However, it can co-occur with other developmental differences, including autism. If there are broader concerns about communication, behaviour, or sensory processing, a professional can help explore this further.
Verbal dyspraxia is considered relatively uncommon, though it is well recognised.
Prevalence figures are hard to pin down because terminology varies, assessment approaches differ, and some children may be described under broader speech sound disorder categories.
It can be, depending on impact. A disability is usually defined by the effect on day-to-day life, education, or work, rather than by a label alone. In that sense, verbal dyspraxia can meet disability criteria when it substantially affects communication and participation.
Support in school or the workplace may be helpful, such as reasonable adjustments, communication aids, or alternative ways to demonstrate knowledge.
There is no single test for verbal dyspraxia.
Assessment is usually carried out by a speech and language therapist (SLT), who looks at speech patterns, consistency, and how speech changes across tasks.
In some cases, a broader multi-disciplinary (MDT) assessment may be helpful to understand the full picture.
Support is usually centred around speech and language therapy.
This may involve:
Therapy plans are individual. The approach depends on age, impact, attention span, and what communication demands matter most day to day.
Evidence reviews suggest that targeted approaches can help, especially when practice is structured and consistent.
Does verbal dyspraxia go away?
Verbal dyspraxia does not usually disappear completely, but many people make significant progress over time.
The focus is on developing clear, functional communication for everyday life, alongside building confidence and reducing frustration around speaking.
Can verbal dyspraxia be cured?
Verbal dyspraxia does not usually disappear completely, but many people make significant progress over time.
The focus is on developing clear, functional communication for everyday life, alongside building confidence and reducing frustration around speaking.
How can you help a child with verbal dyspraxia?
This section is about practical support that reduces friction and builds confidence.
Example phrase swaps:
Verbal dyspraxia is a speech difficulty linked to problems with speech motor planning. The brain finds it hard to plan and sequence the movements needed for clear speech.
Common signs include inconsistent speech, difficulty moving smoothly between sounds and speech that becomes harder as words get longer.
Often yes. “Verbal dyspraxia” and “apraxia of speech” are commonly used to describe the same type of speech motor planning difficulty, with different terms used in different places.
It is linked to differences in how the brain plans and coordinates speech movements. It is not caused by parenting, behaviour, or intelligence. [3]
Yes. Some adults were identified as children. Others were never assessed and only later recognise the pattern in their speech. [8]
It can be, depending on impact. If it significantly affects day-to-day communication, it may meet disability criteria in education or work settings. [3]
There is no guaranteed cure for everyone. Many people improve with appropriate support, strategies, and consistent practice. [3] [4]
There is no single test. Assessment is usually carried out by a speech and language therapist (SLT), who looks at speech patterns and motor planning features.
If your child struggles to speak clearly, it is easy to spiral into “What did I miss?” or “Have I caused this?”
Verbal dyspraxia is a recognised speech motor planning difficulty. You did not cause it.
Progress often comes in steps. That can look like clearer speech in familiar words first, then more stability as the child practices new sounds and longer words. It is normal for progress to feel uneven.
This page is for information only and cannot diagnose verbal dyspraxia.
If you are concerned about speech development, speaking with a healthcare professional can help you understand the next steps. If you would like to talk it through with a clinician, HealthHero can help you make sense of what you are seeing and guide you towards appropriate support.