What is a key characteristic of apraxia of speech?

A key characteristic of apraxia of speech is the presence of inconsistent errors in speech production. Individuals with apraxia often struggle to coordinate the movements required for speech, leading to variable performance when trying to articulate words. This inconsistency can manifest as different errors in repeated attempts to say the same word or phrase.

For example, a person may pronounce a word correctly one time and then incorrectly the next, illustrating the challenge with motor planning involved in speech. This is different from other speech disorders where errors might be more consistent. Understanding this characteristic of apraxia can help in distinguishing it from other communication disorders, which may exhibit more stable patterns of speech errors.