Influences of the Parent-Child Relationship on the Severity of Symptoms in Children with Apraxia of Speech

Abstract Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is considered an impairment of motor control in speech or praxis. Most researchers agree that the basic deficit for children with CAS is a reduced or degraded ability to convert abstract phonological codes into motor vocal commands, called motor planning and/or programming. The objective of our study is identifying possible differences in the severity of symptoms in children with apraxia of speech depending on the dynamics of the parent-child relationship (conflict, positive aspects and dependency). To achieve this objective, questionnaires were developed and administered to parents of children with CAS. The results revealed statistically significant differences, p<0.05. Our results can be used within complex intervention programs.