[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 30, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E582-E583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING CHILDHOOD APRAXIA DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2013

  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, May 14 marks the first annual Childhood 
Apraxia of Speech Day, a day to raise national awareness about 
Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a particularly difficult, persistent, and 
severe speech disorder in youngsters.
  Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) causes children to have extreme 
difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined and

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specific series of movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate that 
are necessary for the production of proper speech. It is among the most 
severe of speech and communication problems in children.
  While the act of learning to speak comes effortlessly to most 
children, those with apraxia endure an incredible and lengthy struggle. 
Although not life threatening it is life altering as families are left 
to cope with the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of 
having a child diagnosed with CAS.
  Every child should be afforded their best opportunity to develop 
speech. With early intervention and appropriate therapy, most children 
with CAS will learn to communicate with their very own voices. These 
children, as well as their families, deserve our highest respect for 
their effort, determination and resilience in the face of such 
obstacles.
  The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) 
offers information and support related to CAS on its website, 
www.apraxia-kids.org.
 Let's use Childhood Apraxia Day to raise awareness about CAS and 
support the goals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.

                          ____________________