Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a neurologically based speech disorder that affects a child's ability to pronounce sounds, syllables and words.  It is the loss of ability to consistently position the articulators (face, tongue, lips, jaw) for the production of speech sounds.  There is nothing wrong with the facial muscles which is evident since the child has no trouble coughing, chewing or swallowing.  However, the part of the brain that tells the muscles how to function during speech may be damaged or not fully developed.