Primarily, children with CAS require frequent and intensive individual speech therapy from an experienced SLP. How much and how often that a child receives speech therapy will depend on each individual child, but the more severely the child is affected, the greater the need for frequent and intensive speech therapy. As children improve (which most will with appropriate therapy), less frequent individual speech therapy is needed.

Speech therapy for children with CAS is focused on providing the child with a great number of opportunities to practice planning, programming and then producing accurate movements for speech. Additionally, children with CAS will likely need to work on other language and communication skills during speech therapy. Some children will learn some sign language or use a communication device while they continue to work on their speech skills

Parents or caregivers need to be highly involved in their child’s speech therapy goals.  They serve as important extenders of speech goals, enabling the child to gain more practice opportunities than they could otherwise.  Parents also can help model appropriate interactions for others and how to best support the child’s communication attempts.

Children with CAS also need the patience and support of other important people in their lives. Caring extended family, friends and teachers can demonstrate support by learning the best ways to support the child’s speech attempts; not pressuring the child to speak, providing time and loving patience when the child wants to speak, and affirming the child’s efforts and intrinsic worth, value and ability.

Even very young children with CAS are often keenly aware of how difficult speech is for them. With appropriate professional help and support from family and friends, they hopefully can and will persist in their efforts and ultimately experience success.