Published Research Studies
on
Apraxia of Speech and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Simply Holistic Solutions is committed to sharing research studies on Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Science-backed medical information helps guide parents and practitioners toward whole-body approaches that may complement speech therapy and support each child’s unique needs. This page is a work in progress that will eventually include existing relevant studies as well as any new studies that are published. Study highlights are included, as well as links to read and learn more.
Claudia Morris, MD and Marilyn Agin, MD.
Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine, 2009
​1.) 187 children included with verbal apraxia, and a common clinical phenotype of male predominance, autism, sensory issues, low muscle tone, coordination difficulties, food allergy, and GI symptoms. Testing was performed on a small percentage and findings were as follows:
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Low carnitine 20/26
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High antigliadin antibodies 15/21
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Gluten-sensitivity HLA alleles 10/10
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Zinc deficiency 2/2
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Vitamin D deficiency 4/7
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Fat malabsorption 8/11
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GI symptoms 25/30
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Food allergy or asthma 28/32
2.) Received vitamin E + polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation.
3.) Doses and brands of omega 3 varied with the majority taking 280 mg DHA and 695 mg EPA per dose in liquid or capsule form given with a meal 1-3 times per day.
4.) Results:181/187 (97%) reported dramatic improvements in speech, imitation, coordination, eye contact, behavior, sensory issues, and development of pain sensation.
“We characterize a novel apraxia phenotype that responds to polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. The association of carnitine deficiency, gluten sensitivity/food allergy, and fat malabsorption with the apraxia phenotype suggests that a comprehensive metabolic workup is warranted. Appropriate screening may identify a subgroup of children who are responsive to nutritional interventions in addition to traditional speech and occupational therapy.” ​
Nashaat, Elrouby, Zeidan, Kilan, Abdelraouf, Hashish, Abdelhady, ElKeblawy, Shadi
Pediatric Neurology, February 2024
​1.) 120 children included divided into 3 groups (30 with CAS; 60 with Delayed Language Development; 30 Neurotypical)
2.) Results: “Elevated levels of antigliadin (gluten) IgA antibody and glutamate demonstrated high sensitivity, differentiating CAS from children with DLD and NTs. The low levels of GABA contributed to the imbalance between the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter levels detected in children with CAS.”
Karen V. Chenausky , Becky Baas , Ruth Stoeckel , Taylor Brown , Jordan R. Green , Cassandra Runke , Lisa Schimmenti and Heather Clark
Journal of Speech Language & Hearing Research
March 2023
​1.) Comorbidities studied in 375 children with apraxia of speech
2.) General findings: Only 1 child had no other diagnoses and the average number of additional diagnoses were 8.4 per child.
3.) Common comorbidities out of 375 children were as follows:
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Expressive language problems 359
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Receptive language delay 267
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Articulation deficit 213
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Non-speech oral apraxia 132
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Vision problems: 64
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Seizure disorder NOS 49
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Tonsillectomy 42
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Sleep problems 39
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Behavior problems 38
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Craniofascial dysmorphism 34
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Autism 32
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GI problems 29
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GI reflux disorder 23
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Anxiety 22
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Allergies 8
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Dyslexia 8​​
Nationwide Children's Hospital, 2007
"In 2006, 150 kids at Nationwide Childrens, seven percent of all speech therapy patients, were diagnosed with apraxia of speech. That's more than double the year before. Meanwhile, the number of speech pathology patients overall increased by just 13 percent from 2005 to 2006. While there is little national data available representing the number of children with apraxia of speech, speech therapists at Nationwide Childrens estimate as many as one to 10 children out of every 1,000 kids may have the disorder.”
Tierney C, Mayes S, Lohs SR, Black A, Gisin E, Veglia M., Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2015
“In a sampling of 30 children, 63.6% of children initially diagnosed with autism also had apraxia. 36.8% of children initially diagnosed with apraxia also had autism, 23.3% had neither, and 23.3% had both.”
“Autism and apraxia are highly comorbid. Thus, it is important to monitor all children diagnosed with apraxia for signs of autism and all children diagnosed with autism for signs of apraxia.”
CDC, May 2025
Current ASD rates: 1 in 31 children
Over 3 times more common among boys than among girls.
“About 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability during a study period of 2009–2017. These included ASD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others.”