What articulatory characteristic is prevalent in children with developmental apraxia of speech?

Children with developmental apraxia of speech often display a characteristic pattern of speech that includes frequent omissions of sounds. This arises from the motor planning and execution difficulties these children experience, which means they struggle to coordinate the precise movements necessary for speech production.

As a result, certain sounds may not be produced at all, reflecting the challenges in generating the appropriate motor commands. Omissions can significantly impact intelligibility and the overall clarity of their speech. While some children may also demonstrate substitutions or frequent errors, the consistent pattern observed in those with developmental apraxia is the tendency to omit sounds, especially in complex syllable structures or when transitioning between sounds.

Thus, frequent omissions of sounds serves as a hallmark feature of the speech characteristics related to this disorder, making it a critical aspect to recognize for assessment and intervention.