Autism vs. Apraxia

What is Autism?

 

Autism is a development disorder, which is usually seen within the first 3 years of life.  What Autism does is affects normal brain development that causes issues with social and communication skills.

 

 

What is Apraxia?

 

Apraxia is a brain and nervous system disorder.  What Apraxia does is affects performing tasks or movements even though what is being asked is understood.

Autism

What are the signs?

-        No babbling by 12 months.

-        Not making words by 16 months.

-       No two-word phrases by 24 months,
which doesn’t include imitating or repeating.

-       Loss of speech, social skills, or babbling at any age.

-        Not gesturing, like pointing, reaching, or waving by 12 months.

-        Lack of emotion, such as smiling or joy by 6 months or after.

-        Lack of sounds, smiles or facial expressions by 9 months.

-        Avoids eye contact.

-        Doesn’t like to be held or cuddled.

-        Avoids playing with others.

-        Often prefers to be secluded.

-        Visually doesn’t follow objects.

-        When a familiar voice calls their name, they don’t respond.

-        Appears not to be able to hear.

-        Seems to be unaware of other people’s feelings.

-        Speech delay.

-        Has an abnormal way of speaking, such as talking like a robot.

-        Repeats the last word of someone else’s sentence.

-        Has a hard time starting conversation or continuing one.

-        Does repetitive movement, like rocking, hand-flapping or spinning.

-        Likes routine.

 

Apraxia

What are the signs?

-        Speech sounds and words can be distorted, left out or sometimes repeated.  Tend to have difficulty putting words together.

-        Often writes better than can speak.

-        Cannot do simple tasks with the mouth such as, lick lips or stick out tongue.

-        Doesn’t perform task properly even when given the correct tools to do so.

-        Has difficulty with movements with the arms or legs.

-        Cannot pucker lips to make a kissy sound.

-        Cannot drink from a straw.

-        Limited facial expressions.

-        Difficulty with food textures.

-        Difficulty making sounds.

-        Excessive drooling.

-        Limited vocabulary.

-        Problems with fine motor skills and coordination.

-        Problems with chewing and swallowing.

-        Clumsiness.

-        Lots of use of nonverbal forms of communication.

-        Attempts to make pronunciation of words, but is difficult.

-        Minimal babbling during infancy.

-        Does repetitive movement, like rocking, hand-flapping or spinning.

Autism and Apraxia are very similar.  So what can be done to help my child whether Autistic or Apraxic? 

Well, first thing is discuss with your doctor what your concerns are.  If able to get a testing for Apraxia, great! But depending on the age this can be difficult.  Biggest thing to do in either case is therapy, therapy, therapy.  And therapy at home too!  There is always ways to integrate some therapy in people's busy schedules.  We still have a hard road with Adrian, but from comparing and seeking help with both Autism and Apraxia and understanding them, we have had a lot of success too.