Pronounced: ah-PRAX-ee-ah
Apraxia happens when you are unable to do learned movements or gestures. You may have the desire and the physical ability to do the movements, but you cannot. This is usually due to brain damage, such as a stroke or a brain tumor . There are many types of apraxia. If you have this condition, you may also have aphasia . Aphasia is a language disorder.
Apraxia is caused by diseases or damage to the cerebral hemispheres in the brain, such as:
Since this condition is associated with stroke, it is important to know the risk factors for stroke, such as:
Talk to your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.
The following is a list of some of the common forms of apraxia and their symptoms:
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam. Tests may include:
Your treatment depends on what kind of apraxia you have. Families should ask the doctor about individualized treatment programs, which may include:
If you are living with someone who has apraxia, these healthcare providers can offer support:
It may be difficult to prevent this condition. Since it is strongly linked to stroke, following steps to prevent stroke may help. Some of these steps include:
RESOURCES:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
http://www.asha.org/default.htm
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/splash/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
References:
Apraxia in adults. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Available at: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ApraxiaAdults.htm . Accessed November 11, 2008.
Before M. Apraxia, constructional. EBSCO Publishing Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=860 . Updated November 2007. Accessed November 10, 2008.
Childhood apraxia of speech. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Available at: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ChildhoodApraxia.htm . Accessed November 11, 2008.
Curioni C, André C, Veras R. Weight reduction for primary prevention of stroke in adults with overweight or obesity. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [serial online]. 2006;4. Available at: http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab006062.html . Accessed November 25, 2008.
Heilman KM, Valenstein E, Rothi LJG, Watson RT. Upper limb action-intentional and cognitive-apraxic motor disorders. In: Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, eds. Neurology in Clinical Practice . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Butterworth Heniemann Elsevier; 2008: 121-132.
Levy J, Morgan J , Brown E. Other complications of ESRD. In: Levy J, Morgan J, Brown E. Oxford Handbook of Dialysis . 2 ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2004; 768.
Kaplan R. Apraxia, ideational. EBSCO Publishing Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=860 .Updated August 2007. Accessed November 10, 2008.
Kaplan R. Apraxia, ideomotor. EBSCO Publishing Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=860 . Updated August 2007. Accessed November 10, 2008.
Kellicker PG. Stroke complications: perceptual disorders—apraxia and agnosia. EBSCO Publishing Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=860 . Updated October 2007. Accessed November 12, 2008.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield, MA. Merriam-Webster, Inc.; 1998;58.
NINDS apraxia information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/apraxia/apraxia.htm . Updated October 2008. Accessed November 18, 2008.
NINDS frontotemporal dementia information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/picks/picks.htm . Updated December 2008. Accessed December 11, 2008.
Sands, J. Apraxia, gait. EBSCO Publishing Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=860 . Updated August 2007. Accessed November 10, 2008.
Sands J. Apraxia, limb-kinetic. EBSCO Publishing Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=860 . Updated September 2007. Accessed November 10, 2008.
Stedman’s Medical Dictionary . 28th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005;125.
Stroke risk factors. American Heart Association website. 2008. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=9217 . Accessed November 25, 2008.
Last reviewed December 2008 by Judy Chang, MD, FAASM
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.