Childhood Apraxia of Speech Therapy in Westlake Village
Help for children who know what they want to say but struggle to plan the movements to say it, from a licensed speech-language pathologist.
During business hours, we return calls within an hour.
- Free 15-minute call
- No referral needed
- No waiting list
- Ages
- Birth to 18
- Where
- Your home, school, a private clinic on request, or telehealth anywhere in California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
- How soon
- No waiting list as of October 2026. Evaluations are scheduled within 3 business days of your free consultation.
Your child knows exactly what they want to say. You can see it. But the word comes out differently each time, or not at all, and the frustration builds. Maybe a pediatrician or another therapist mentioned apraxia. Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a speech disorder in which a child's brain has trouble planning the movements of the lips, tongue, and jaw for speech. Childhood apraxia of speech therapy gives a child many chances to practice those movements, through play. No diagnosis or referral is needed.
What is childhood apraxia of speech?
With CAS, the muscles for speech work, but the brain has trouble planning and timing their movements. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) describes it as a speech sound disorder in which reflexes and muscle tone are typical.
The problem is not how a child thinks. It is how the brain tells the mouth muscles to move. Most of the time, the cause is unknown, according to ASHA.
CAS is rare. Current estimates cited by ASHA put it at about 1 in 1,000 children ages 4 to 8. Many children who are hard to understand have a different speech sound disorder, which is why a careful evaluation matters.
What are the signs of childhood apraxia of speech?
Signs vary from child to child, and some also show up in other speech problems. According to ASHA, a child with CAS may:
- Say a word differently each timeThe same word comes out one way today and another way tomorrow.
- Stress the wrong partThe stress lands on the wrong syllable or word.
- Change or distort soundsSounds come out changed in ways that are hard to predict.
- Do better with short wordsShort words are clearer than longer ones.
- Search for the soundYou can see the mouth trying different positions.
ASHA notes that some children with CAS also have trouble with fine motor skills, language, or later with reading and spelling. If hand skills are part of the picture, our occupational therapist can look at that too.
A speech-language pathologist can test for CAS during an evaluation. ASHA notes that CAS is harder to diagnose before age 3, so a younger child may first be described as "suspected" CAS. A younger child with signs can still be seen and can start therapy.
Occupational therapy for handwriting, sensory needs, feeding, and everyday skills.
How does childhood apraxia of speech therapy work?
Therapy helps a child plan the movements needed to say sounds, and it takes a lot of practice. ASHA notes that a child with CAS may begin with therapy 3 to 5 times a week, and that children must practice speaking to get better at it.
Sessions use lots of repetition, carefully ordered syllables and words, and cues a child can see and feel, woven into play so practice doesn't feel like drilling. We set goals you can hear: sound shapes first, then words that matter to your child, then short phrases.
Some children with CAS also use AAC, such as a picture board or a speech app. ASHA describes AAC as a way to support communication while a child works on speech.
We recommend how often to meet based on your child's evaluation. Sessions run 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service.
How can we help our child practice at home?
Short, frequent practice is where apraxia work happens between sessions, so families are key partners.
Your plan includes parent coaching. We give you a few target words and simple ways to practice them during routines you already have: bath time, snacks, the car ride. A little, often, without pressure.
What happens when you start childhood apraxia of speech therapy?
Childhood apraxia of speech therapy starts with a free 15-minute consultation. If an evaluation is the right next step, it is scheduled within 3 business days. The written report follows within 14 business days, with a treatment plan if therapy is recommended.
Free 15-minute consultation
You talk with a licensed speech-language pathologist about what you are noticing at home and at school. If we don't think an evaluation is needed yet, we will say so.
Evaluation within 3 business days
If an evaluation is the right next step, it is scheduled within 3 business days of your consultation. The speech-language pathologist looks at how your child makes sounds and words, how speech changes from one try to the next, and how your child communicates in other ways. It usually takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Written report and recommendation
Within 14 business days, you get the written evaluation, and a clear treatment plan if therapy is recommended. The plan sets graduation goals: the skills that show a child is ready to finish therapy.
Parent coaching
Your plan includes parent coaching. You learn how to practice target words at home in short, playful bursts.
Sessions
Sessions look like play with a purpose, built around your child's target words. They run 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the service.
Who would my child work with?
At Therapy Clubhouse, childhood apraxia of speech therapy is led by Nita Anavim, M.S., CCC-SLP. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist and co-founder.
- Degrees
- M.S. and B.S., Communicative Disorders and Sciences, California State University, Northridge
- Certification
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- California license
- No. 38532Verify on the state license search (opens in a new tab)
“I want them to leave feeling like they came to play with someone new.”Meet Nita →
How much does childhood apraxia of speech therapy cost?
Coverage depends on your plan. You can use your insurance through our partner, Village, which handles the billing. Village accepts PPO plans from several major insurers, and TRICARE.
Village also charges its own fee for each visit, in addition to your copay or deductible. Before therapy starts, Village goes over the expected cost with you.
We are waiting to become in network with major insurance companies. Until then, Village is how insurance works with us.
You can also pay privately, and we give you a superbill to send to your plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. On the free 15-minute call, we check your coverage before you commit to anything.
Can children under 3 get speech therapy through Early Start?
Children under 3 may qualify for Early Start services through Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC). Therapy Clubhouse is a TCRC provider.
There is no charge for the evaluation or for service coordination. You may need to use your insurance for ongoing therapy, according to California's Early Start FAQ.
If you live on the Los Angeles County side of Westlake Village, tell us your address. We will help you find which regional center covers you.
What else do parents ask about childhood apraxia of speech?
Will my child outgrow apraxia?
No one can predict how one child will progress. ASHA notes that children with CAS must practice speaking to get better at it, which is why waiting is usually not the plan. We set goals with you and track them.
Is apraxia the same as a speech delay?
No. A delay means skills come in slowly but in the usual order. Apraxia is trouble planning the movements for speech, so errors are less consistent, and practice is central to therapy.
Will AAC stop my child from talking?
ASHA describes AAC as a way to support communication while a child works on speech. Many families use both. Read more about AAC and talking.
How often is apraxia therapy needed?
Children with CAS often need more frequent sessions than other speech goals. ASHA notes that a child may begin with therapy 3 to 5 times a week. We recommend a schedule based on your child's evaluation.
Do we need a diagnosis before we call?
No. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral. Our speech-language pathologist can evaluate your child and guide next steps.
Can apraxia therapy happen by telehealth?
Yes. We offer speech therapy in your home and by telehealth anywhere in California.
Is the free call the same as an evaluation?
No. The free 15-minute call answers your questions and points you to the right next step. It is not an evaluation. If therapy looks like a fit, the evaluation comes next.
Which school district and regional center serve Westlake Village?
Westlake Village sits on a county line. The Los Angeles County side is served by Las Virgenes Unified School District, and the Ventura County side by Conejo Valley Unified School District. For children under 3, the regional center depends on the county. Families on the Ventura County side fall under Tri-Counties Regional Center, where we are a provider. On the Los Angeles County side, tell us your address and we'll help you confirm which regional center covers you.
What areas do you serve?
We provide apraxia therapy for families in Westlake Village and nearby towns. These include Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Telehealth is available anywhere in California.Thousand OaksAgoura HillsOak ParkNewbury ParkCalabasasMoorparkSimi ValleyAll locations
“If you're concerned about your child's development, don't wait. You know your child best.”
About 1 in 6 children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities. (CDC)
We build every child's plan and goals around one aim: graduating from speech or occupational therapy. That is our goal with every child.
Watching your child work this hard to be understood is hard on a parent, too. You don't have to sort it out alone. Tell us a little more about what you're seeing. Let's talk about it.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing about your child. A licensed therapist reads every message, not an assistant, and replies within one business day. The consultation is free, lasts about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation. There is no waiting list. If you would rather talk now, call (805) 702-3427.
