Apraxia

A disorder of the brain and nervous system that is characterized by a person's inability to perform tasks or movements when asked, even though the request or command is understood, they are willing to perform the task, the muscles needed to perform the task work properly and the task may have already been learned. Apraxia may affect speech, gait, facial muscle movements (e.g., the ability to lick one's lips, whistle), the ability to move the eyes as requested (e.g., gaze at a specified target), the ability to make precise movements with the arms or legs, the ability to perform complex tasks in appropriate sequence (e.g., putting on socks before shoes) or the ability to perform a learned task when given the necessary objects or tools (e.g., when given a screwdriver, the individual may try to write with it as if it were a pen). The most common causes of apraxia are brain tumors, neurodegenerative illnesses, dementia, stroke and traumatic brain injury though the condition may also be present at birth.