Which of the following is a sign of nonverbal oral apraxia that may accompany AOS?

• A. Articulatory groping, either visually, audibly, or both.
• B. Normal mouth movements.
• C. Immediate fluent speech.
• D. No frustration.

Answer: (A)

Nonverbal oral apraxia involves trouble planning and programming non-speech movements of the mouth, even when the person can move their mouth well for speech. A classic sign is articulatory groping: the person visibly or audibly searches for the correct mouth position when asked to perform a non-speech task (like puckering lips, whistling, blowing, or kissing motions). This searching or “groping” reflects a disruption in the motor planning process for non-speech oral actions and often occurs alongside apraxia of speech.

The other possibilities don’t fit as signs of nonverbal oral apraxia. Normal mouth movements suggest intact non-speech oral function; immediate fluent speech points away from a motor planning deficit in speech, which is not the issue here; no frustration is not a reliable or defining sign of nonverbal oral apraxia.