In the ABA-2, which subtests are most sensitive to detecting AOS?

• A. The Apraxia of Speech subtests, including spontaneous connected speech and word repetition
• B. The Oromotor articulation subtests
• C. The Language Comprehension subtests
• D. The Phonological Processing subtests

Answer: (A)

Focusing on how speech is planned and sequenced, the most sensitive subtests are the ones that directly probe speech production. Tasks like spontaneous connected speech and word repetition require real-time planning and programming of sequences of sounds, so they reliably reveal the planning and articulation difficulties that define apraxia of speech. On these tasks you can observe features such as groping, inconsistent errors, distorted sound production, and longer initiation or transition times, which are classic markers of AOS.

Oromotor articulation tasks look at non-speech mouth movements, which can be normal in people with AOS because the disorder mainly affects speech planning rather than non-speech oral motor strength or coordination. Language comprehension and phonological processing assess understanding and mental manipulation of language sounds, not the motor output of speech, so they’re less sensitive to AOS unless a broader language disorder is also present.