Childhood Apraxia of Speech vs Gross Motor Delay

One is about getting the mouth to say the words; the other is about getting the body to move — two very different journeys, often easy to confuse.

In short

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a speech difficulty — your child knows exactly what they want to say, but the brain struggles to plan and sequence the precise movements of the lips, tongue and jaw needed to say it clearly and consistently. Gross Motor Delay is a whole-body movement difficulty — your child is slower to reach big physical milestones like sitting, crawling, standing or walking. One affects the small, fine movements of speech; the other affects the large movements of the body. A child can have one, the other, or sometimes both.

How they differ in everyday life

With Childhood Apraxia of Speech, you might notice that your child understands far more than they can say, that the same word comes out differently each time they try it, that longer words are harder than shorter ones, and that they seem to be 'groping' or searching with their mouth to find a sound. It is not about weak muscles or not knowing the words — it is the planning of speech movements that is tricky. Listening and understanding are usually fine.

With Gross Motor Delay, the signs are about the big movements: a baby slow to hold their head steady, sit without support, pull to stand or take first steps; a toddler who seems floppy or stiff, tires quickly, or moves awkwardly. Here the focus is on strength, balance, coordination and posture — not on speech at all.

Think of it this way: CAS is a speech-motor planning concern, supported mainly by speech therapy; gross motor delay is a large-movement concern, supported mainly by physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Because development is connected, some children show both — which is exactly why a full, all-round look matters rather than guessing at one label.

When to seek a check

If by around 18–24 months your child has very few clear words, or words that change every time, do speak to a professional — CAS is best confirmed once a child is genuinely attempting to talk. For movement, if your child is clearly behind on sitting, crawling, standing or walking for their age, or moves in a way that worries you, a developmental check is wise. Trust your instinct: a gentle, early look is always better than waiting.

The Pinnacle way

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, never from an app or a form. Our team observes how your child speaks, moves, plays and understands, then maps the right support — speech therapy where sound and word-planning is the picture, and movement-focused therapy where the body needs strengthening. Learn more about Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Trusted sources

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association describes Childhood Apraxia of Speech as a motor-planning speech disorder distinct from muscle weakness. The American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren outline typical gross-motor milestones and when delays warrant a developmental review.

Next step — Unsure whether it's speech, movement, or both? Book a developmental screening and let a clinician look at the whole picture and guide your next steps.