Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Worrying about Childhood Apraxia of Speech in a newborn
Childhood Apraxia of Speech cannot be identified in a newborn, because a baby this young is not yet expected to talk. The question of CAS only becomes meaningful from around 18 months, when a toddler is attempting words. In the first three months, observe normal foundations — responding to sound, eye contact, cooing, comfortable feeding. Seek a prompt general check (not for apraxia) if there are concerns about hearing, feeding or alertness; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
If you have been reading about Childhood Apraxia of Speech and wondering whether your newborn might have it, take a slow breath — this is a loving worry, and the reassurance is genuine.
In short
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor-speech difficulty that can only be recognised once a child is actually attempting words and short phrases — usually well after the first birthday, and often around 18 months to 3 years. It is not something that can be identified in a newborn, because a baby this young is not yet expected to talk. So there is nothing to "watch for" as apraxia at this stage. What is helpful now is to enjoy and observe the normal building blocks of early communication, and to have a routine developmental check if anything about hearing, feeding or alertness concerns you.What is actually appropriate to observe at the newborn stage
In the first three months, communication shows up in lovely, simple ways — not in words:- Startling or quietening to sounds and your voice (a basic sign hearing is working)
- Making eye contact and beginning to study faces
- Cooing and gurgling by around 2 months
- Feeding comfortably — sucking, swallowing and coordinating breathing
- Calming to your touch and voice, and beginning to smile socially around 6–8 weeks
These are the foundations on which speech is later built. If your baby is feeding well, responding to sound and connecting with you, the apraxia question simply does not apply yet.
When the question of CAS becomes meaningful — and when to check sooner
Concerns about apraxia genuinely begin to make sense from around 18 months onwards, when a toddler is trying words but speech sounds are markedly inconsistent, effortful or hard to understand. Before then, the kinder path is to monitor the normal milestones.Do seek a prompt check at any age — not because of apraxia, but for general development — if your newborn does not startle to loud sounds, never seems to settle to your voice, has ongoing feeding or swallowing difficulty, or is unusually floppy or unalert. A hearing screen and a paediatric review come first.
The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online form or a checklist, and never for a condition before it is age-appropriate to assess. If you would like reassurance now, a gentle developmental check is the right starting point, and our speech therapy team can guide you on what to expect as your child grows. You can also read more about Childhood Apraxia of Speech for the years ahead.Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 (6A01.0, developmental speech sound disorders); American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on Childhood Apraxia of Speech (asha.org); American Academy of Pediatrics early communication and hearing milestones (healthychildren.org).Next step — If anything about your baby's hearing, feeding or alertness worries you, the kindest move is a calm conversation with a clinician. Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle team.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
In the first three months, watch the healthy foundations of communication, not speech: startling or quietening to sounds, eye contact, cooing by about 2 months, comfortable feeding, and social smiling by 6–8 weeks. Apraxia itself is not assessable yet. Seek a prompt general check if your baby does not respond to sound, has feeding or swallowing difficulty, or seems unusually floppy or unalert.
Try this at home
Talk, sing and respond warmly to your baby's coos throughout the day — this back-and-forth 'serve and return' is the real groundwork for speech. There is no exercise that prevents or causes apraxia; loving, responsive chatter is exactly what a newborn needs.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
Can Childhood Apraxia of Speech be diagnosed in a newborn?
No. CAS is a motor-speech difficulty that can only be recognised once a child is attempting words, usually from around 18 months onwards. A newborn is not yet expected to talk, so apraxia cannot be identified at this stage.
What should I look for in my newborn's communication?
In the first three months, look for the normal foundations: startling or quietening to sounds, eye contact, cooing by about 2 months, comfortable feeding, and social smiling around 6–8 weeks. These are healthy signs that speech can build on later.
When does the question of apraxia actually become meaningful?
From around 18 months, when a toddler is trying words but speech sounds are markedly inconsistent, effortful or hard to understand. Before then, the kinder path is simply to monitor the normal milestones.
When should I seek a check for my newborn?
Seek a prompt general developmental check — not for apraxia — if your baby does not startle to loud sounds, never settles to your voice, has ongoing feeding or swallowing difficulty, or is unusually floppy or unalert. A hearing screen and paediatric review come first.