What is a common characteristic of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)?

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is characterized primarily by inconsistent errors on consonants and vowels when a child attempts to speak. This inconsistency in speech sound production is a hallmark feature of CAS, which differentiates it from other speech sound disorders. Children with CAS might produce the same word differently each time they attempt it, showcasing their difficulty in planning and coordinating the movements necessary for speech.

The other options do not accurately depict the nature of CAS. For example, consistent speech production errors may suggest a different type of speech disorder, such as an articulation disorder. Neuromuscular deficits are typically associated with other speech disorders, such as dysarthria, where the problem lies in muscle control rather than the planning of speech movements seen in CAS. Lastly, perfect articulation of words is not characteristic of CAS. In fact, children diagnosed with this condition struggle significantly with precise articulation, making option C the most representative of CAS.