Studies have shown that patients who have trouble speaking after a stroke can learn to sing their words instead. This is called melodic intonation therapy (MIT), and it may also help your child deal with his speech disorder. The use of MIT in speech-language therapy (SLT) can particularly help children who have apraxia. Apraxia is a neurological disorder in which the brain understands the words, but the mouth cannot form them. Children with apraxia often use gestures and single syllable grunts.