Speech motor planning is the ability to come up with an idea, plan how to say or express that idea and then finally say it. Muscle tone refers to the muscle strength needed to move the jaw, tongue and other muscles needed to speak. A motor speech disorder is present when a child struggles to produce speech because of problems with motor planning or muscle tone needed to speak. There are two major types of motor speech disorders: dysarthria and apraxia. Dysarthria, often called slurred speech, is slow, distorted speech resulting from weakness and inability to control or coordinate muscles used during speech. Apraxia of speech is the inability to make a voluntary movement, like speaking, even if the child can demonstrate normal muscle function.
