Which of the following is a common articulation error type in children with developmental apraxia of speech?

In the context of developmental apraxia of speech, groping or refusal during imitation is a hallmark characteristic observed in affected children. This issue arises due to the impaired ability to plan and coordinate the precise movements necessary for speech production. As a result, when asked to imitate sounds or words, these children may struggle to produce the desired speech sounds and may exhibit groping movements as they attempt to find the correct articulatory gesture.

Groping indicates that the child is making a concerted effort to articulate but is having difficulty because of the challenges related to motor planning and sequencing involved in speech tasks. This behavior is indicative of the underlying neurological basis of developmental apraxia of speech, where the expected execution of speech patterns is disrupted.

Recognizing this behavior as a common articulation error type helps clinicians and educators understand the specific needs of children with developmental apraxia, allowing for tailored interventions that focus on improving motor planning skills rather than just addressing surface articulatory errors.