Which input modality tends to be more intelligible when cueing and practice are used in AOS?

• A. Reading tends to be more intelligible than spontaneous speech.
• B. Spontaneous speech tends to be more intelligible than reading.
• C. Repeated nonword practice is most intelligible.
• D. All modalities are equally intelligible.

Answer: (D)

Cueing and practice target how the speech motor system plans and executes sequences. In apraxia of speech, the main challenge is organizing the rapid, precise movements needed for articulation. External cues (such as phoneme prompts, pacing, or visual supports) and repeated practice help stabilize those motor sequences, improving timing, transition between sounds, and overall intelligibility. Because these improvements come from strengthening the motor planning and execution itself, they tend to transfer across different ways of producing speech. Whether the task involves reading, spontaneous speech, or repeating nonwords, the same motor gains can yield comparable levels of intelligibility once cueing and practice are in place. That’s why, with effective cueing and practice, the intelligibility across modalities often converges rather than diverges.