Evaluating Childhood Apraxia of Speech in Cantonese-Speaking Children: A Tutorial Based on Available Evidence

Purpose: Recent research has increasingly focused on childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) in non–English-speaking populations, with Cantonese emerging as a significant language of study. This tutorial seeks to consolidate current knowledge regarding CAS in Cantonese speakers and proposes an assessment battery accompanied by observational criteria to support both clinical practice and research applications. Method: The proposed assessment battery includes five tasks: the Hong Kong Cantonese Articulation Test, a connected speech sample derived from a story retelling task, the Cantonese Oral and Speech Motor Assessment, the Imitation of Polysyllables task, and the Tone Sequencing Task (Version 3.2). Diagnostic criteria incorporate five key features observed across these tasks, supported by quantitative thresholds, reference values, and cutoff scores drawn from prior research. A modified version of the Profile of Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Childhood Dysarthria, tailored for Cantonese speakers, is also included to differentiate CAS from childhood dysarthria. Conclusion: This tutorial offers a comprehensive overview of CAS in Cantonese speakers and provides an evidence-based assessment battery alongside diagnostic criteria to support both clinical and research applications.