Which of the following is NOT a core feature of AOS according to consensus guidelines?

• A. Slow speech rate with articulation distortions, groping, and inconsistent errors that worsen with longer/complex utterances, with relatively preserved comprehension.
• B. Groping.
• C. Inconsistent errors that worsen with longer utterances.
• D. Rapid, fluent speech with no motor planning difficulties.

Answer: (D)

In apraxia of speech the challenge is in planning and programming the sequence of articulatory movements, which shows up as slow, effortful speech with distortions, plus clear attempts and groping for the right placements. Speech tends to break into segments, and errors are inconsistent, often getting worse as utterances become longer or more complex. Importantly, language comprehension is typically relatively preserved, especially in less severe cases.

The option that describes rapid, fluent speech with no motor planning difficulties does not fit this pattern. AOS characteristically involves slowed, disrupted speech with articulatory distortion and planning-related struggles; fluent, rapid speech with no motor planning issues would point away from AOS and toward other language or motor conditions.