apraxia
Definition
Noun: A neurological disorder characterized by the inability to perform learned, purposeful movements and skilled tasks, despite having the physical ability and desire to do so. It is not due to weakness, incoordination, sensory loss, or a failure to understand the task.
Usage
The word "apraxia" is a medical and clinical term used primarily in neurology, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy. It describes a specific deficit in motor planning and execution.
Examples
- The stroke resulted in apraxia, leaving the patient unable to voluntarily perform actions like waving goodbye, even though his arm muscles were strong.
- Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder where a person has difficulty saying what they want to say correctly and consistently.
- Occupational therapy often focuses on strategies to manage the effects of apraxia in daily activities.
Advanced Usage
- Ideomotor apraxia: The most common type, where a person cannot voluntarily perform a learned task when given the necessary object, but may do it spontaneously. For example, they cannot pretend to brush their hair when asked, but might pick up a brush and use it correctly.
- Ideational apraxia: A more severe deficit involving the loss of the concept or sequence required to perform a complex task with multiple steps, like making a cup of tea.
- Constructional apraxia: Difficulty in drawing or assembling objects.
Variants and Related Words
- Apraxic (adjective): Relating to or suffering from apraxia.
- The patient presented with apraxic symptoms.
- Dyspraxia: Often used interchangeably in some contexts (especially in developmental disorders), though it can imply a less severe impairment in motor planning and coordination.
Synonyms
- Motor planning disorder
- Kinetic apraxia (a specific type)
Antonyms
- Praxis (the ability to perform coordinated movements)
- Motor competence
Noun
-
inability to make purposeful movements
