What disorder is characterized by difficulty in planning motor movements for speech despite having the physical ability?

What disorder is characterized by difficulty in planning motor movements for speech despite having the physical ability?

• A. Fluency disorder
• B. Apraxia of speech
• C. Dysarthria
• D. Speech delay

Answer: (B)

The disorder characterized by difficulty in planning and executing motor movements necessary for speech, despite having the physical ability to produce sounds, is apraxia of speech. This condition affects the brain's ability to send the right signals to the muscles involved in speech production. Individuals with apraxia may know what they want to say but struggle with the coordination and planning required to articulate those sounds accurately. This results in inconsistent speech errors and difficulty with the rhythm and flow of speech. In contrast, fluency disorders primarily involve disruptions in the flow of speech, such as stuttering, and are not primarily related to the planning of speech movements. Dysarthria, on the other hand, is a motor speech disorder that arises from neurological injury, affecting the muscles used for speech, which can lead to slurred or slow speech due to physical impairments rather than planning difficulties. Speech delay refers to a lag in the development of speech and language skills, which is not specifically related to the planning and execution of speech motor movements as seen in apraxia. Therefore, the correct identification of the disorder that reflects challenges in the planning of speech movements is indeed apraxia of speech.

The disorder characterized by difficulty in planning and executing motor movements necessary for speech, despite having the physical ability to produce sounds, is apraxia of speech. This condition affects the brain's ability to send the right signals to the muscles involved in speech production. Individuals with apraxia may know what they want to say but struggle with the coordination and planning required to articulate those sounds accurately. This results in inconsistent speech errors and difficulty with the rhythm and flow of speech.

In contrast, fluency disorders primarily involve disruptions in the flow of speech, such as stuttering, and are not primarily related to the planning of speech movements. Dysarthria, on the other hand, is a motor speech disorder that arises from neurological injury, affecting the muscles used for speech, which can lead to slurred or slow speech due to physical impairments rather than planning difficulties. Speech delay refers to a lag in the development of speech and language skills, which is not specifically related to the planning and execution of speech motor movements as seen in apraxia. Therefore, the correct identification of the disorder that reflects challenges in the planning of speech movements is indeed apraxia of speech.