Literacy

Language-Based Learning and Reading Difficulties/Literacy Skills

Whenever a child is struggling with learning to read and write, a speech-language assessment is an essential component of a comprehensive evaluation. We will look closely at their phonological awareness skills, sound-symbol association, reading comprehension and written language. We can develop a treatment plan that will work to enhance all skills needed to improve reading and writing abilities

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have a key role in promoting the emergent literacy skills of all children, and especially those with known or suspected literacy-related learning difficulties. The SLP may help to prevent such problems, identify children at risk for reading and writing difficulties, and provide intervention to remediate literacy-related difficulties.

Parent can help their child to develop literacy skills during regular activities and show children that reading and writing are a part of everyday life and can be fun and enjoyable. Activities for preschool children include the following:

Talk to your child and name objects, people, and events in the
Talk to your child during daily routine activities such as bath or mealtime and respond to his or her questions.
Draw your child's attention to print in everyday settings such as traffic signs, store logos, and food containers.
Introduce new vocabulary words during holidays and special activities such as outings to an amusement park, the zoo, the park
Engage your child in singing, rhyming games, and nursery rhymes.
Read picture and story books that focus on sounds, rhymes, and alliteration (words that start with the same sound, as found in Dr. Seuss
Focus your child's attention on books by pointing to words and pictures as you read.
Provide a variety of materials to encourage drawing and scribbling (e.g., crayons, paper, markers, finger paints).
Encourage your child to describe or tell a story about his/her drawing and write down the words.

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