APRAXIA Meaning and
Definition
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Apraxia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability or difficulty to perform purposeful, planned movements or gestures, despite the individual having the physical capacity to execute them. It is a motor disorder that affects the ability to coordinate and sequence complex movements needed for daily activities. Apraxia can manifest in various forms, including limb apraxia, oral apraxia, and ideomotor apraxia, causing impairment in different areas of the body.
Limb apraxia refers to the inability or impaired ability to perform gestures or movements with the arms or legs, such as waving goodbye or mimicking simple actions. Oral apraxia, on the other hand, affects the muscles used for speech production and communication, leading to difficulties in speaking and pronouncing words. Ideomotor apraxia primarily involves issues related to motor planning, making it challenging to carry out purposeful movements in response to verbal commands or symbolic gestures.
Apraxia can result from various underlying causes, including brain damage, stroke, head trauma, or degenerative diseases affecting the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. The exact neuroanatomical basis of apraxia is not fully understood, but it is known to involve disruptions in the brain areas responsible for motor planning and execution.
Individuals with apraxia often require specialized therapy, such as occupational or speech therapy, to improve their motor coordination and regain functional independence. Treatment may involve repetitive practice, learning compensatory strategies, and modifying the environment to facilitate task completion. The outlook for individuals with apraxia varies based on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause, with some individuals experiencing significant improvements with therapy while others may face long-term challenges in motor planning and execution.
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1. A disorder of voluntary movement, consisting in a more or less complete incapacity to execute purposeful movements, notwithstanding the preservation of muscular power, sensibility, and coordination in general. 2. A psychomotor defect in which one is unable to apply to its proper use an object which he is nevertheless able to name and the uses of which he can describe.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for APRAXIA
Etymology of APRAXIA
The word "apraxia" has Greek origins. It stems from the combination of two Greek words:
1. "A" (ά) - a negation prefix, meaning "not" or "without".
2. "Praxis" (πρᾶξις) - from the Greek verb "prassein" (πράσσειν), meaning "to act" or "to do".
Therefore, "apraxia" literally translates to "without action" or "inability to act". The term is used in the medical field to refer to a neurological condition characterized by the inability to execute learned purposeful movements, despite having the physical ability to do so.
Similar spelling words for APRAXIA
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