1. Treat the Underlying Disorder
When a brain tumor/lesion is the cause of apraxia, sometimes the apraxia can be cured or diminished by treating the cause. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the standard courses of treatment for a brain tumor. Even after treatment, it's common for some of the tumor to remain, but reducing it may help to treat symptoms of apraxia. Some rehabilitation therapy may still be needed to regain the ability to speak or perform everyday tasks.
2. Restore Lost Movements With Rehabilitation
Apraxia that affects one or more body parts is usually treated with occupational and physical therapy. Occupational therapy is used to teach how to perform everyday tasks and physical therapy is used to teach the motor skills needed to perform these tasks. These two therapies usually complement each other, but they can be used independently if the situation calls for it. For mild to moderate apraxia, these therapies usually focus on restoring movements lost as a result of a neurological event. This is usually done with repetition of these movements and other drills.
3. Compensate for Lost Movements
The prognosis for severe apraxia is not always good, but therapy can be used to try to compensate for some of the lost movements in other ways. For example, a patient with severe apraxia that is affecting his ability to walk may be able to learn to walk with a walker in rehabilitation therapy. Or a patient with apraxia of speech to the level of muteness can be taught to communicate with gestures and/or sign language. Experienced rehabilitation specialists can evaluate your loved one to determine the best approach for therapy. Often compensation therapy is used after restorative therapy proves ineffective.
4. Speech and Language Therapy for Developmental Apraxia of Speech
Developmental apraxia of speech in children requires speech and language therapy for treatment. Unlike some cases of acquired apraxia of speech, developmental apraxia of speech does not resolve spontaneously. Speech therapy typically involves repetition of words and phrases, drills in front of a mirror and many other exercises. How the therapy is conducted is highly individualized. Parents are encouraged to continue exercises at home and provide a supportive environment. With adequate therapy, the prognosis for most children with developmental apraxia is good.
