Apraxia

What is an Apraxia

Apraxia is the loss of the ability to do certain learned movements, such as talk, walk, or understand tasks. The cause of this condition is brain damage or a decrease in brain function (degeneration), especially in areas of the brain that help to coordinate movements.

Apraxia causes movements and activities you could once do to be uncoordinated.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by damage to the brain. Common causes of brain damage include:

• Stroke.
• A brain tumor.
• A brain injury.
• A brain disease, such as:
  • A brain infection.
  • Dementia.
  • Alzheimer disease.
  • Huntington disease.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The main symptom of this condition is inability to do the things you once could do. The exact movements that are affected depend on the area of the brain that was damaged and the cause of the damage. Abilities affected may include the ability to:

• Move your arms or legs exactly as you want to when doing certain movements, such as brushing your teeth, brushing your hair, or feeding yourself.
• Follow verbal commands.
• Do regular activities, such as getting dressed, cooking, or bathing.
• Put sounds together to make words.
• Write or draw.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on symptoms and a physical exam, which includes a check of the nervous system (neurological exam). Your health care provider may ask you to perform several tasks. He or she may also order some tests, including:

• Language and mental ability tests.
• Imaging tests of the brain, such as an MRI or CT scan. These types of tests are done to check for a stroke, tumor, or injury.
• Spinal fluid tests (spinal tap). These are done to look for evidence of tumor or infection.
• A series of tests related to thinking and behavior (neuropsychological examination).

How is this treated?

There is no cure for this condition, but treatments can help to control symptoms. Treatment depends on the type of apraxia and its cause. It may include:

• Rehabilitation therapy. This is the most common treatment. There are several types of rehabilitation therapy. They include:
  • Speech and language therapy. This type helps you to learn to communicate.
  • Physical therapy. This type improves your fitness and preserves movement.
  • Occupational therapy. This type helps you to learn to do everyday tasks in a new way.
  • Cognitive therapy. This type helps you to improve your thinking abilities and your memory.
• Treatment for the underlying condition. This may prevent apraxia from getting worse.
• Treatment for depression or anxiety, if the apraxia leads to these types of feelings.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Create a good support system of caregivers. If caregivers are helping you at home, make sure they understand your health care provider’s instructions.
• Meet with an occupational therapist to make your home safe and easy to get around.
• Keep your home calm, quiet, and relaxed.
• Use tools to help you communicate and remember things.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You are struggling to manage apraxia at home.
• You are feeling depressed, anxious, or frustrated.
• You do not have anyone to help you at home.
• You are unable to care for yourself.
• You are worried you may hurt yourself at home.

Summary

• Apraxia is the loss of the ability to do certain learned movements, such as talk, walk, or understand tasks.
• This condition is caused by damage or degeneration to areas of the brain that help to coordinate movements.
• There is no cure for this condition, but treatments can help with symptoms. Treatment may include speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.