How can a speech pathologist assist with literacy difficulties?

Speech pathologists play a crucial role in supporting literacy development because spoken language and literacy are closely connected. Here is how a speech pathologist can help children with literacy difficulties:

1. Phonological Awareness Development

• Phonological awareness (the ability to recognise and manipulate sounds in words) is a critical pre-reading skill.

• SLPs help children develop skills like rhyming, blending sounds, and segmenting words into sounds (e.g., hearing that "cat" consists of /k/, /æ/, /t/).

• Weak phonological awareness is a common predictor of reading difficulties, including dyslexia.

2. Speech Sound Development and Letter-Sound Connections

• Children with speech sound disorders may struggle to connect spoken sounds to written letters, making it harder to decode words when reading.

• Speech pathologists work on improving speech clarity, which in turn helps children recognise and use sounds correctly when learning to read and spell.

3. Vocabulary Growth

• A strong vocabulary helps with reading comprehension and writing.

• Speech pathologists work on expanding a child’s vocabulary which helps with fluent reading and writing.

4. Language Comprehension and Narrative Skills

• Understanding spoken language is essential for understanding written language.

• Speech pathologists work on skills like following directions, understanding sentence structure, and making inferences, which directly impact reading comprehension.

• They also help children organise their thoughts for storytelling and written expression.

5. Reading Fluency

• Some children struggle to read smoothly and efficiently.

• Speech pathologists can help improve oral reading fluency by focusing on automatic word recognition, sentence structure, and expressive reading skills.

6. Writing and Spelling Support

• Spelling relies on phonological awareness, sound-letter knowledge, and memory, all of which speech pathologists address.

• They also help children develop clear sentence structure, grammar, and coherence in writing.

By addressing these areas and working collaboratively with parents, teachers and other professionals, speech pathologists bridge the gap between spoken and written language, helping children develop strong reading, writing, and communication skills for lifelong learning.

Melanie Broadbent - Speech Pathologist