Apraxia and Sensory Issues: What's the Connection?
Sensory Smart Parent Newsletter - April 2026
Apraxia is a condition that is common among children with sensory processing disorder.
Praxis is the planning and executing of a series of movements, so apraxia is a problem with motor planning. Apraxia or dyspraxia of speech means there’s a glitch in turning thoughts into spoken words: Kids with apraxia can’t coordinate the movements of their lips, tongue, and facial muscles, and their breathing, to get out what they’re trying to say. This is also called oral dyspraxia. Global dyspraxia is poor motor planning of other movement sequences, such as tying your shoe, putting on your socks, and so on.
Kids with poor body awareness due to sensory issues often have motor planning problems as well. If you can’t feel the food in your mouth, you stuff too much in. Then how do you coordinate swallowing it? Better to avoid that mushy food that confuses you…
See how it works?
Motor planning is a form of organization. Many kids with SPD have organizational issues, not just organizing body movements with motor planning but also organizing thoughts and ideas, language, time, and possessions. This is true whether or not they just have sensory issues or they also have autism or ADHD! They’re the kids that tidy their room by placing the candy wrapper neatly on the bookshelf and the books under the bed where they fit nicely. They’re the kids who can’t quite grasp time and are always running late because they can’t judge how long a process takes. They may seem clumsy because they’re not coordinating their movements well. The sensory signals in the brain are unreliable and don’t integrate well.
Occupational therapy that uses sensory integration therapy techniques is a common way of addressing apraxia. An OT might have a child with sensory issues and apraxia walk through an obstacle course or hop over a toy three times in a row, using her body to cue the child to keep his feet together as he hops. When a child has apraxia of speech, a cueing therapy such as PROMPT is often used to treat it. Essentially, the speech language pathologist (SLP) treating the child with apraxia will use her hands and fingers to cue that child’s face, lips, mouth, etc., to create a particular sound. You can learn more in the following video: What Is PROMPT Therapy?
Does your child have motor planning issues that affect their speech or everyday activities? Apraxia-kids.org is a great resource.
Want to learn more about how to help your child who has sensory issues and apraxia? Get a copy of the award-winning book Raising a Sensory Smart Child! It’s chock full of practical tips as well as information that can help you understand and advocate for your sensory child.
#apraxia #speechtherapy #occupationaltherapy #organizationalissues #clumsiness #developmentaldyspraxia #dyspraxia #sensoryissuesapraxia #speechdelaysensory
Lindsey Biel’s Upcoming Speaking Schedule
Lindsey Biel, MA, OTR/L will soon be presenting on
Using Your Sensory Smarts™ in Daily Life. The Polaris Connection webcast – April 7.
Sensory Smart™ Strategies for Real Life Challenges (Day One) - Szmalec Sensory Integration Center/Warmińsko-Mazurskie Training Center - Torùn, Poland -June 13.
Sensory Smart™ Strategies for Building Visual Skills (Day Two) - Torùn, Poland -June 14.
Contact lindsey@sensorysmarts.com for more information
You can browse and click through to purchase toys and equipment to help kids with sensory issues at the Sensory Smart Shop.
My name is Nancy Peske, the Sensory Smart Parent. With Lindsey Biel, MA, OTR/L, I co-authored the award-winning book Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues. I hope you enjoy the information and encouragement I share, and thanks for reading the Sensory Smart Parent Newsletter. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.