Speech and literacy go hand in hand in and they play a crucial role in a child’s full growth and development. Literacy simply refers to one’s reading and writing skills. However, children with language and speech delays often have issues with it. They may encounter a variety of problems, like difficulty in pronouncing words and understanding speech sounds.
These problems can affect the way that these children learn how to read and write. Because they have trouble decoding sounds and words, they may not fully understand all parts of the language, particularly vocabulary, syntax, and grammar. If such problems are left ignored, they may find it difficult to understand what they read or get their ideas into writing.
Helping Children with Literacy Issues
For children struggling to improve their literacy skills, at least two things can be done. The first method pertains to improving their speech and language problems. By helping these children pronounce sounds correctly, they will eventually find it easier to read and spell words. Soon, they will also understand all the grammatical markers of proper reading and writing.
Another way to help children improve is by teaching them how to read and write directly. This requires a lot of patience because children with speech problems may have to learn two things at the same time. Some experts believe that combining speech therapy with reading and writing practice will help children generalize the two skills and produce much better results.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapy is performed by a specialized expert called a speech-language pathologist. This health professional is well trained in this field and is rightfully qualified to provide the kind of assistance these children need. They can help in correcting speech sound, expressive language, and receptive language issues among children.
The first thing they’ll do is conduct a diagnosis to determine the extent of the problem. After which, they’ll design a therapy or program that would help address all the issues that the children encounter in order to help them improve not just in improving their speech but their general literacy skills as well.
Motivating Children
Children with literacy and speech issues have to be duly motivated to encourage them to help themselves. The therapy provided by speech-language pathologists can only do so much, which is why these kids also need all the support that they can get from home.
Motivation is the key to get the children learning. Reading and writing require constant practice in order for the child to better each and every day. At home, parents are requested to read to their children in such a way they get to practice their listening and comprehension skills. If parents can read to their children every day before bedtime, it would greatly help.
Speech-language pathologist will take care of the phonological awareness of children while parents can show them the practical examples by patiently reading to their children and teaching them how to write. Together, children will achieve reading and writing fluency, thus eradicating all the issues that they’re having with literacy.
Recent Comments