Motor Speech Disorder Therapy in Ottawa
Some children know exactly what they want to say but have difficulty coordinating the movements needed to produce clear, understandable speech.
At Speech-Language Ottawa, our experienced speech-language pathologists help children with motor speech disorders, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), and dysarthria, which can affect their ability to plan, coordinate, or control the movements required for speaking.
We provide personalized motor speech assessments and therapy to help children improve speech sound production, movement coordination, and overall speech clarity. Treatment is tailored to each child's specific needs, using structured practice and evidence-informed techniques to support the development of clearer, more effective communication.
With in-home motor speech therapy in Ottawa and virtual speech therapy options available throughout Ontario, we make it easier for families to access specialized support. The suitability of virtual therapy depends on each child's needs.
Book a speech assessment today and take the first step toward helping your child communicate with greater confidence.
Who We Help
We help children who have difficulty planning, coordinating, or controlling the movements needed for clear speech. Motor speech disorders can make speaking challenging, even when a child understands language and knows what they want to say.
Our speech-language pathologists provide motor speech therapy for children experiencing challenges such as:
- Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) (difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech)
- Dysarthria (speech difficulties caused by weakness or reduced control of the muscles used for speaking)
- Inconsistent speech sound errors (pronouncing the same word differently across attempts)
- Difficulty transitioning between sounds and syllables (struggling to produce smooth, coordinated speech)
- Unusual speech rhythm or stress patterns (placing emphasis on the wrong syllables or speaking with irregular rhythm)
- Slow, slurred, or unclear speech (difficulty controlling the speed, strength, or precision of speech movements)
- Difficulty producing longer words or sentences (speech becoming less accurate as words increase in complexity)
Our goal is to help children develop more accurate and coordinated speech movements, improve speech clarity, and communicate more effectively with family, friends, and teachers in everyday situations.
What Is Motor Speech Disorder Therapy for Children?
Motor speech therapy helps children who have difficulty planning, coordinating, or controlling the movements needed to produce clear, understandable speech.
Unlike articulation disorders, which primarily affect the production of individual speech sounds, motor speech disorders involve difficulties with the neurological processes responsible for planning or executing speech movements. Common motor speech disorders include childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and dysarthria.
Through personalized motor speech therapy, we help children:
- Improve the coordination and accuracy of speech movements
- Develop clearer and more consistent speech sound production
- Practise transitioning smoothly between sounds and syllables
- Improve speech rhythm, timing, and stress patterns
- Develop greater control over speech movements
- Practise producing words, phrases, and sentences more accurately
- Build confidence communicating with family, friends, and teachers
Our goal is to help your child develop clearer, more effective speech so they can express themselves and participate more confidently in everyday conversations.
Personalized Motor Speech Therapy for Your Child
Every child with a motor speech disorder has unique challenges, and therapy should reflect their specific diagnosis, speech abilities, and developmental needs.
At Speech-Language Ottawa, our speech-language pathologists assess your child's speech production, movement coordination, and speech patterns to better understand the underlying difficulties and determine an appropriate treatment approach.
For children with childhood apraxia of speech, therapy may involve structured, repetitive practice of speech movements with individualized visual, auditory, and tactile cues.
For children with dysarthria, treatment may focus on improving speech intelligibility through strategies addressing articulation, speaking rate, voice, and breath support, depending on their specific needs.
We also work with parents and caregivers to provide practical strategies for supporting speech development outside of therapy sessions. Consistent, guided practice and opportunities for everyday communication can help children develop their skills at home, at school, and in social situations.
Our Staff
Our Clinicians are Ontario and Canada Certified Speech-Language Pathologists. (Reg. CASLPO. SAC)
Find the Clinician that fits your needs
Conditions We Commonly Help With
We support children experiencing motor speech difficulties that affect their ability to plan, coordinate, or control the movements needed for clear speech, including:
- Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) (difficulty planning and sequencing movements needed to produce speech)
- Dysarthria (speech difficulties caused by reduced muscle strength, coordination, or control)
- Inconsistent speech sound errors (producing the same word differently across attempts)
- Difficulty transitioning between sounds and syllables (challenges coordinating smooth speech movements)
- Unusual speech rhythm and stress patterns (difficulty placing appropriate emphasis on syllables or words)
- Slow, slurred, or imprecise speech (difficulty controlling the speed and accuracy of speech movements)
- Difficulty producing complex or multisyllabic words (speech becoming less accurate as words increase in length or complexity)
Our speech-language pathologists help children who experience difficulty coordinating speech movements, producing consistent speech sounds, or communicating clearly in everyday situations.
Whether your child has childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, or symptoms that may suggest a motor speech disorder, our goal is to improve speech clarity, support effective communication, and help them participate more confidently at home, at school, and in social settings.
What is a motor speech disorder?
A motor speech disorder is a condition that affects a child's ability to plan, coordinate, or control the movements needed for speaking. Children with motor speech disorders may know what they want to say but struggle to produce words clearly or consistently. Two common types are childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), which affects speech motor planning and programming, and dysarthria, which affects the muscle control needed for speech. A speech-language pathologist can assess these difficulties and recommend appropriate treatment.
What are the signs of childhood apraxia of speech?
Signs of childhood apraxia of speech may include inconsistent pronunciation of the same word, difficulty transitioning smoothly between sounds or syllables, unusual speech rhythm, and greater difficulty producing longer or more complex words. Some children may also struggle to imitate speech sounds or appear to search for the correct mouth movements when speaking. These signs can overlap with other speech disorders, so a comprehensive assessment by a speech-language pathologist is important for an accurate diagnosis.
What is the difference between childhood apraxia of speech and an articulation disorder?
Childhood apraxia of speech affects the brain's ability to plan and program the movements required for speech, while an articulation disorder primarily involves difficulty producing specific speech sounds correctly. For example, a child with an articulation disorder might consistently mispronounce the R sound, while a child with apraxia may produce the same word differently across attempts. Because these conditions require different treatment approaches, an accurate speech-language assessment is essential.
Can motor speech disorders improve with speech therapy?
Yes. Speech therapy can help many children with motor speech disorders improve speech clarity, coordination, and communication skills. Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis and may involve repetitive speech movement practice, individualized cues, and strategies to improve speech intelligibility. Children with childhood apraxia of speech often benefit from motor-based treatment approaches that focus on practising coordinated speech movements. Progress varies depending on the child's needs, the severity of the disorder, and the treatment approach.
Do you offer in-home and virtual motor speech therapy in Ottawa?
Speech-Language Ottawa offers in-home speech therapy for children in Ottawa and surrounding communities, subject to availability, as well as virtual speech therapy throughout Ontario. Motor speech therapy may involve structured practice, clinician feedback, and parent participation to help children develop more accurate and coordinated speech movements. Because some motor speech disorders require specialized treatment techniques and frequent practice, our speech-language pathologists can help determine whether in-home or virtual therapy is appropriate for your child's specific needs.
