[Speech apraxia--an apraxic disorder?]

This article presents arguments supporting the view that apraxia of speech is an apraxic disorder. In a first part the most salient clinical signs of the syndrome are reviewed. Among these, the symptom of inconsistent distortions and categorical aberrations of speech sounds is emphasized for its relevance in differentiating apraxia of speech from the dysarththrias on the one hand and from aphasic phonological disturbances on the other. In a second part, the diagnostic criteria of apraxia of speech are compared to those of oral (nonverbal) apraxia. In this comparison, a full correspondence between the two syndromes can be stated. Finally we discuss the principal arguments that have been raised against the concept of verbal apraxia.