Have you ever wondered what your children feel like? How the brain to mouth signals feel like when they get lost and fade into dust? How does your body feel after a word you know you wanted to say goes missing? Read more to find out from a first-person perspective how that feels. People see our speech all the time; some people may sound more appealing to others than some. However, nobody notes how it makes the person feel.
So, what does it feel like?
I’ve had this discussion with multiple adults who have CAS, and it feels like your brain is almost trying to hold you back. Like your pulling and tugging on ropes desperately trying to get the next word out, and if you do, that took extra effort that goes unrecognized. We can feel when a word will be more challenging, and it’s almost like our brain warns us- like there are warning signs. We can get scared or even anxious, but it’s up to us to tear down those signs and take that risk anyway.
The brain to mouth signals, can you feel them?
Yes, I can feel when my brain isn’t signaling my mouth to articulate the word I want to say. I won’t be able to move my tongue, which requires me to be mindful and start over. Many people have mistaken this in my life as a stutter when it’s not- it’s the speech signals getting lost and me jumping back on track.
How does your body feel once a word goes missing?
Our body’s natural reaction when we cannot get out a word is pressure, and almost for me, muscle tension, especially in my shoulders and neck. You can get tension in your throat from trying to articulate a word so often; this is why it’s essential to take care of yourself. Take care of your body. Nourish it, drink water, or sip on something warm. Note that this isn’t for Apraxia itself, but the side effects Apraxia can have on a person.
Apraxia may affect speech, but it has so many side effects. For us to say it only affects speech is silly. It’s time for us to dive in deeper and take a full look at how it affects the person.