Dawn

AAC for childhood apraxia of speech

Children with apraxia often know what they want to say but can't get their mouth to make the movements. AAC gives them another way to communicate, and it's normally used alongside speech therapy.

Dawn's symbol board on iPad with the message 'I want to play' built from symbols

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS, or verbal dyspraxia in the UK) is a speech disorder in which the brain has trouble planning the movements needed for speech. It isn't a problem with understanding, and it isn't caused by weak muscles. A child with apraxia may understand everything you say and still be very hard to understand, or say very little.

What ASHA and the research say

  • AAC is one of the optionsASHA's position statement on apraxia says treatment may include augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology.1
  • It's used alongside speechASHA says AAC can give children a way to communicate that "supports and enhances verbal speech production", and may help them develop language they can't yet practise out loud.2
  • Starting earlyA 2026 review found studies suggesting that starting AAC early may help children communicate.3
  • There isn't much researchThat review found 11 studies, and ASHA calls the early case studies a low level of support.34

Using Dawn with a child who has apraxia

A child with apraxia may know many more words than they can say, and can outgrow a small board quickly. In Dawn you can start with First words or Combining under "Words to show" and move to Everything later. New words appear in empty cells, so the words your child already uses stay where they are.

Tapping a word shows its other forms beside the board, such as go, went, going, so a child who is building sentences can pick the right one.

When you can't understand a word your child is saying, they can find it on the board or type it. A saved phrase like "Let me show you" helps.

Dawn has children's voices, so the app can sound like a child. Older children who can spell can type with word suggestions.

Dawn's symbol board with the word forms panel showing play, played, playing and plays
Word forms appear beside the board when a word is tapped.

Speech and AAC at home

Respond to your child's message whether they say it or tap it. Some speech-language pathologists use the app in therapy: the child taps a word, hears it, then tries saying it. Your child's therapist can tell you whether that suits your child.

Dawn gives your child a way to communicate alongside speech therapy; it doesn't treat apraxia. If your child hasn't been assessed, ask your doctor for a referral to a speech-language pathologist (speech and language therapist in the UK) who has worked with apraxia.

Questions people ask

Will AAC slow down my child's speech therapy?

Speech therapy remains the main treatment for apraxia, and AAC is used alongside it. ASHA describes AAC for children with apraxia as providing a way to communicate "while at the same time supporting and enhancing verbal speech production".4 A 2026 review described AAC as something used alongside treatment for apraxia.3 Ask your child's speech therapist how to use AAC alongside their speech therapy.

How strong is the evidence?

Limited. ASHA's 2007 report says the early studies give "only a low level of support", and the 2026 review found 11 studies.43 They suggest AAC can help communication without reducing speech. In a review across developmental disabilities, none of the people in the studies rated most reliable had less speech after AAC was introduced.5

My child talks, just not clearly. Is AAC still for them?

It can be. Many children with apraxia are understood by their family but not by teachers, strangers or other children. An app can help in those situations, or when a particular word won't come out.

Should we use signs or an app?

Many families use signs and an app. Signs are quick for a few familiar words; the app reads a message aloud to people who don't know the signs. ASHA lists gestures, signs, voice output devices and communication boards as options.2

Sources

  1. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Childhood Apraxia of Speech [Position Statement], 2007. www.asha.org/policy/ps2007-00277
  2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Childhood Apraxia of Speech (Practice Portal). www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/childhood-apraxia-of-speech
  3. Adams S, Zakrzewski K, King T, et al. A scoping review of augmentative and alternative communication use in children with childhood apraxia of speech. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 2026. doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2026.2619162
  4. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Childhood Apraxia of Speech [Technical Report], 2007. www.asha.org/policy/tr2007-00278
  5. Millar DC, Light JC, Schlosser RW. The impact of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on the speech production of individuals with developmental disabilities: a research review. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 2006. doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2006/021)

Try Dawn on iPhone or iPad

Symbols, typing and saved phrases, spoken in a natural voice. Dawn can also build a voice from about eight seconds of your own speech.

Requires iOS 17 or later.