What characteristic of speech is often affected by CAS according to research?

The characteristic of speech often affected by Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is prosody and stress patterns. Children with CAS typically struggle with the motor planning and coordination necessary for accurate speech production. As a result, their speech can exhibit atypical rhythm, intonation, and stress patterns, which are all components of prosody.

Prosody is crucial for effective communication, as it conveys emotions, emphasizes certain parts of speech, and helps to clarify meaning. In children with CAS, these aspects may become disrupted, leading to speech that lacks normal patterns of pitch and timing. This disruption may manifest as monotonic speech, where the natural variations in pitch and volume are reduced, or erratic stress patterns that can affect the clarity and comprehensibility of their spoken language.

Understanding the difficulties associated with prosody and stress patterns can help speech-language pathology assistants support children with CAS more effectively, focusing on exercises and strategies that enhance these areas to improve overall communication skills.