What Is Whole-Body Apraxia?
Dyspraxia is the partial loss of the ability to coordinate and perform skilled purposeful movements. Apraxia is the complete loss of this ability. The root word “praxia” means execution of voluntary motor movements; the “dys” means partial ability or partial loss; the “a” means absence of something.
In certain cases, dyspraxia and praxia may be acquired due to a stroke, head injury or other neurological assault. In children, this may look like a sudden loss of muscle tone (hypotonia), developmental delays, clumsiness, and/or a lack of coordination. These conditions are quite common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder and learning disabilities.
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech is a speech and language condition in which children have trouble planning and coordinating their jaws, lips and tongues to produce reliable speech. Speech is thus a fine-motor skill. The condition is similar to an adult’s loss of speech after a stroke, although with children, their speech hasn’t fully developed as it has with an adult. This condition is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning that it affected a child during typical development. Apraxia of speech refers to the total or near-total lack of age-appropriate language. Childhood apraxia of speech is a common feature of people with autism.
The Spellers Movement
In recent years, with the advent of Soma RPM (Rapid Prompt Method), S2C (Spelling to Communicate) and other forms of assistive technology, children and adults with autism that were previously unreliable speakers have learned to communicate by pointing to letters on a letterboard, which allows them to spell out words. These children and adults were almost always thought by others to be of low intelligence. However, after they learned to spell with letterboards, many of them were discovered to have intelligence that is far above average. (See J.B. Handley’s and Jamison Handley’s book Underestimated: An Autism Miracle for a play-by-play account.)
These children and adults have been trapped inside bodies whose bodies don’t cooperate with their thoughts and commands. Consider a typical adult who has had a stroke and who has lost the ability to speak. Think of the amount of occupational therapy that needs to be done before such an adult can speak reliably again. Then compare this to a child who lost speech or never acquired expressive language. The neurological event that happened that caused this lack of speech happened at a time when the child’s brain was still developing.
The Spellers movement that was brought on by Soma Mukhopadhyay, Elizabeth Vosseller, Dawnmarie Gaivin, Dana Johnson and others culminated in an unprecedented wave of children and adults, most of whom have autism, learning to spell to communicate. What these people have to say is heartbreaking yet inspiring. The documentary Spellers was released in 2023. Its plot is “Challenging conventional wisdom regarding a group relegated to society’s margins: nonspeakers with autism, who most “experts” believe are cognitively disabled.”
In This Webinar
Dr. Johnson helped us to answer the following questions in this webinar:
- What are whole-body apraxia and childhood apraxia of speech?
- How does whole-body apraxia affect childhood apraxia of speech?
- Why should we presume competence in non-speakers?
- How can motor coaching help those with whole-body apraxia and childhood apraxia of speech?
- What is the Spellers Method™, and how can it help with expressive language?
- Why may schools and therapists be resistant to these methods and assistive technologies?
- How can building muscle help those with whole-body apraxia and childhood apraxia of speech?
- Why is optimizing blood sugar important for those with whole-body apraxia and childhood apraxia of speech?
Key Discussions
Whole-Body Apraxia and Childhood Apraxia of Speech Distinction
Whole-body apraxia involves more extensive motor planning challenges throughout the entire body, not just speech. Understanding this distinction helps in tailoring treatments that address both sensory and motor functions comprehensively.
Role of Sensory Processing, Reflex Integration, and Vision in Apraxia
Effective therapy for apraxia should involve addressing sensory processing challenges, integrating retained reflexes, and assessing and supporting vision through developmental optometry. These foundational areas are crucial for improving motor skills and overall regulation.
Motor Coaching and Intentional Movement
Motor coaching involves breaking down tasks into smaller, more-manageable steps to facilitate intentional motor actions. This approach helps individuals with apraxia develop more reliable motor skills and can improve their ability to engage in daily activities as well as communication.
Parental Involvement and Presuming Competence
Active parental involvement in therapy sessions and presuming the competence of the child is important. Training parents early on to work with their children ensures that progress continues outside of clinical settings, fostering an environment of support and growth.
Health and Wellness through Resistance Training
Resistance training and other forms of intentional exercise are not only beneficial for sensory and motor development but also for overall metabolic health. The anti-inflammatory effects of building muscle and improving insulin sensitivity can significantly impact the regulation and daily function of individuals with apraxia.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Documenting Hope rebranding announcement
08:27 Presuming competence with apraxia
11:51 Brain-body connection: enhancing intentional movement
20:40 Vision’s role in neuromotor disabilities
22:40 Understanding praxis and apraxia
27:18 Regulation: key to motor learning
35:30 Building intentional motor communication
42:06 Communication challenges explained
43:10 Supporting motor learning in spellers
53:12 Myokines’ brain benefits from training
55:19 Gut health and motor skills connection
01:03:16 Understanding apraxia and attention
01:06:07 AAC device limitations and communication
01:13:56 Visual perception and fixation assessment
01:16:44 Support through task initiation
01:24:43 Reliable responses for simple questions
01:29:43 Eating impulsivity and dysregulation
01:31:51 Training parents for speller communication
01:37:03 Early vision evaluation recommended
01:45:22 Parent engagement in spelling communication
01:47:38 Teaching motor skills through regulation
01:52:12 Teaching intentional breathing techniques
01:57:22 Optimistic outlook and gratitude
About Dana Johnson PhD OTR/L
Dana Johnson is the Founder of Spellers Center, Tampa; Founder of Spellers Center Atlanta, Founder of Invictus Academy, Tampa Bay; and co-creator of the Spellers Method. Dana has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, and a PhD in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Development.
She is a producer of the award-winning documentary, SPELLERS, an executive producer of UNDERESTIMATED: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers, and co-author of The Spellers Guidebook: Practical Advice for Parents and Students.
Over the last 20 years, families and individuals with motor and sensory differences have come to Dana for help from all over the U.S., Canada and Europe.

She currently specializes in supporting individuals with autism, apraxia, nonspeaking, unreliably speaking, and minimally speaking individuals by utilizing spelling and typing as a form of communication. Dana started her career in Canada as an occupational therapist supporting children in the public school system. Then she transitioned to private practice in North Carolina before working for 2 years at Johns Hopkins Outpatient Care in the Tampa Bay Area.
In 2010, Dana opened her own clinic in New Port Richey, FL Spellers Center Tampa (formerly Interplay Therapy) with a focus on autism, apraxia/dyspraxia, and sensory-motor differences. As a Spellers Method provider, as well as an Occupational Therapist, Dana focuses her current work on teaching purposeful motor skills to treat apraxia/autism and to help nonspeakers communicate. You can find out more about her and her work at https://www.spellers.com/tampa
Disclaimer
This webinar is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Documenting Hope has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this webinar.
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