Talking Speech Apraxia
The Talking Speech Apraxia Podcast, hosted by Ruth Rowntree, Speech Apraxia International, is a heartfelt and empowering show dedicated to illuminating the challenges and triumphs that come with speech apraxia (verbal dyspraxia) through interviews with experts and inspiring personal accounts. We cover childhood apraxia of speech, acquired apraxia of speech and primary progressive apraxia of speech. With each episode, we connect families, speech and language therapists, researchers, and other professionals, sharing stories, wisdom, and evidence-based strategies that truly make a difference.
Episodes
Development of the Nuffield Dyspraxia Program- Dr Pamela Williams
Dr Pam Williams -Lecturer and lead author of the Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme (NDP- 3rd edition) talks about her amazing career working with children who have childhood apraxia of speech. She discusses how the NDP came about and how she and her team went onto develop this amazing work into this resource that is widely used today.Pam was Consultant SLT and lead clinician for the dyspraxia service a
Communication, Choice and Voice: What It Means for People with Speech Apraxia-Mark Jayes
This podcast explores the work of Mark Jayes, whose research focuses on how people with communication disabilities access information, participate in decision-making, and have their voices heard in research and everyday life. The discussion is particularly relevant for individuals with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and other speech disorders, highlighting the importance of supported decision-m
Rethinking childhood apraxia of speech with Dr Aravind Namasivayam
Dr. Aravind Namasivayam explores pediatric speech sound disorder assessment and intervention from a speech motor and motor-synergy perspective. The discussion challenges traditional IPA transcription-based interpretations of children’s speech errors and examines research suggesting that many errors commonly labelled as “phonological” may instead reflect underlying speech motor constraints. The pod
Mapping vowels in Speech Apraxia
Speech Apraxia can effect vowels, but how and why. This fascinating podcast win which we interview Dr Nicole Whitworth, a vowel expert explains all.Dr Nicole Whitworth's research focuses on speech acquisition, vowel production, multilingual speech development, and the pedagogy of phonetics and clinical linguistics.Here are some references that may be useful to accompany this podcast and a vide
Growing up with Speech Apraxia- Mikey Akers
Listen to this inspiring podcast where I interview Mikey Akers. In his own words, Mikey describes his journey- I was diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia (now known as childhood apraxia of speech) when I was 2 and a half, the worst case my speech therapist had ever come across. I never met anyone who shared the same diagnosis, so at 13 I started a Facebook page to raise awareness. For the last 10 years
Navigating the highs and lows of a Childhood Apraxia of Speech Diagnosis with Gill Tudur
I’m Gill, mum to two boys, Tomos (8) and Macsen (5). We live on Anglesey, and the boys are educated through the medium of Welsh, while hearing both Welsh and English at home.When Macsen was five years and four months old, he was diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Phonological Awareness Disorder. Childhood Apraxia of Speech can be an isolating experience, especially when so few people u
Childhood Apraxia of speech, authoring the RCSLT position paper with Helen Stringer
In this episode, Ruth is joined by Helen to explore childhood apraxia of speech through an evidence-based lens. Helen Stringer was the lead author on the RCSLT Position paper on Childhood Apraxia Of Speech (2024). The discussion focuses on why accurate terminology matters, how childhood apraxia differs from both “speech delay” and acquired apraxia, and why mislabelling can lead to inappropriate or
Why Speech Apraxia Is Still Overlooked: Training Gaps, Bias, and Breaking Into the Profession-Ruth Rowntree
In this episode, Ruth Rowntree interviewed by Libby Hall, takes a clear-eyed look at why speech apraxia remains so poorly understood within speech and language therapy. She examines the persistent gaps in university training, the limited exposure many clinicians have to apraxia in practice, and the consequences this has for diagnosis, confidence, and care.Ruth also speaks candidly about the often
Neurodiversity in Speech and Language Therapy: Lived Experience, Identity, and Inclusion with Jodee Simpson
In this episode, Jodie Simpson, an autistic speech and language therapist, talks openly about her journey into the profession and her research on neurodiversity within speech and language therapy. Jodie explores the realities faced by neurodivergent therapists, including discrimination, ableism, and barriers within training and clinical practice. She challenges deficit-based thinking and makes a c
Acquired Apraxia of Speech-How to treat and assess with Kimberley Williams of Nova Speech Therapy
Kimberley Williams explores the realities of working with acquired apraxia of speech, a rare motor speech disorder that most often presents alongside aphasia following stroke. Drawing on extensive clinical experience, Kimberley explains the specialist skills required, the challenges clinicians face, and what effective support looks like in practice. She also reflects on the personal and profession
Speech Apraxia, Care and Context in India with Appas Saha
Distinguished Assistant Professor Appas Saha joins us from India to discuss speech apraxia awareness, care, and diagnosis in his country. He explores how families navigate assessment and therapy for children with childhood apraxia of speech, highlighting both the challenges they face and the progress being made. He also shares his hopes for the future of support and understanding in this important
Why isn’t he talking? It can’t just be autism
When Lottie Berry’s non-speaking autistic son Joshua didn’t follow the normal pathway for speech progression, she started to question why.Yes, he was autistic, but that didn’t explain why he couldn’t talk. Lottie talks about how she bravely pushed for a diagnosis for his speech disorder on the NHS and secured an adapted speech assessment, which resulted in a diagnosis of Suspected Childhood Apraxi
Picking targets and working with childhood apraxia of speech
Olga Komadina talks about why she chose to work in speech apraxia and her route into the field. What are the challenges and how do you make decisions about children? Olga has years of experience working with childhood apraxia of speech.
Acquired apraxia of speech- Jon Hunt, founder of Cuespeak
In this episode, Jon Hunt discusses how apraxia affects people after a stroke and shares insights from his work supporting individuals with acquired apraxia of speech and aphasia. He explores the challenges of diagnosis, common misconceptions about treatment, and how these conditions often overlap more than many realise.Jon also talks about designing the Cuespeak therapy app, created to help peopl
Acquired apraxia of speech after a stroke- Stroke Survivors Speech & Language Support Group
Liz Bedson runs the Stroke Survivors Speech and Language Support group. She explains the effects of stroke on speech and language, how her organisation supports individuals with apraxia of speech and is looking to also train their volunteers. The organisation supports Stroke Survivors in Cheshire, UK and surrounding areas with speech, language and communication difficulties with fun activities in
Childhood apraxia of speech and selective mutism, diagnosis, awareness and effective therapy- Libby Hill Consultant Speech and Language Therapist Small Talk SLT Ltd
Libby hall discusses both childhood apraxia of speech and selective mutism. She answers questions around diagnosis, common misconceptions, and raising awareness. This unique podcast focuses on an area of speech and language that is often misunderstood and underrepresented, Libby sheds light on the challenges families face and the importance of early intervention. Whether you're a person living
Piecing Together the Puzzle: Pam’s Journey with FOXP2 and Childhood Apraxia of Speech
In this episode, I’m joined by Pam Slater, whose daughter was diagnosed with a FOXP2-related speech and language disorder in 2017. She shares her story with www.speechapraxia.co.uk That diagnosis helped piece together years of unanswered questions—hypotonia, poor eye contact, and unclear speech that even family struggled to understand. Pam shares her daughter’s remarkable journey, from early physi
Alonna Bondar- Treating childhood apraxia of speech-common questions
Alonna addresses the common questions asked when treating childhood apraxia of speech. Alonna is PROMPT certified and DTTC trained, and listed on the Apraxia Kids directory. She is a pediatric speech language pathologist with over 25 years of experience specializing in apraxia and other speech sound disorders.Alonna offers online courses on childhood apraxia of Alonna addresses the common question
Chelsea- a mother's experience of navigating support for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Chelsea, mum to Lucas. When Lucas was just two, Chelsea noticed he wasn’t talking at all. After years of frustration and limited progress with standard speech therapy, Lucas was finally diagnosed at six with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Fast forward just over two years, and with the right specialist, intensive support, he’s making incredible progress. Chelsea ha
Elliot's Voice -The Forth Worth mum giving a voice to her child.
I intervew Kendra Frank, founder of 'Elliot's Voice' Elliot is four — bursting with energy, laughter, and curiosity. He understands the world around him, but childhood apraxia of speech makes it hard for him to get the words out. That’s why she created Elliott’s Voice: a nonprofit placing low-tech communication boards in parks, libraries, zoos, and even emergency services — so kids lik
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