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Speech Therapy & Literacy: The Language–Reading Connection


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Strong language skills lay the foundation for reading and writing. Long before a child sounds out their first word, they’re building the listening, vocabulary, and narrative abilities that make reading possible. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in supporting literacy development by strengthening the language systems that underpin decoding, comprehension, and expression.


Language and literacy are deeply intertwined: children with language delays are at a higher risk for later reading difficulties (Catts et al., 2002). But with the right support, those skills can be strengthened early—setting children up for long-term academic success.



How Language Skills Support Literacy


• Phonological Awareness: Understanding and manipulating sounds in words is a strong predictor of reading success.

• Vocabulary Development: The more words children know, the easier it is to understand what they read.

• Narrative Skills: Being able to tell and retell stories helps with reading comprehension and written expression.

• Listening Comprehension: Strong listening skills lay the groundwork for reading comprehension.



How Speech Therapy Helps


Speech therapy doesn’t just target speech sounds—it builds the skills behind fluent reading:

• Sound Awareness Activities: Rhyming, segmenting, and blending sounds to strengthen phonological processing.

• Story Retell & Sequencing: Building comprehension, structure, and vocabulary.

• Language Expansion: Helping children use richer and more complex language.

• Linking Oral and Written Language: Bridging what children say and what they read and write.


Research shows that language interventions can significantly improve reading outcomes, especially when started early (Snowling & Hulme, 2012; Justice et al., 2005).


Tips for Parents at Home


• Read Daily: Even 10 minutes a day makes a difference.

• Talk About Stories: Ask open-ended questions and encourage your child to retell what happened.

• Play With Sounds: Rhyming games, songs, and silly word play build phonological awareness.

• Model Language: Expand on what your child says to give them new words and structures.


Why It Matters


Early language support = stronger reading skills later on. By supporting language, speech therapy helps children build a solid foundation for literacy that boosts confidence in school and beyond.





Works Cited:

• Catts, H. W., Fey, M. E., Tomblin, J. B., & Zhang, X. (2002). A longitudinal investigation of reading outcomes in children with language impairments. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 45(6), 1142–1157.

• Justice, L. M., Chow, S. M., Capellini, S. A., Flanigan, K., & Colton, S. (2005). Emergent literacy intervention for vulnerable preschoolers: Relative effects of two approaches. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 14(3), 255–270.

• Snowling, M. J., & Hulme, C. (2012). Interventions for children’s language and literacy difficulties. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 47(1), 27–34.





 
 
 
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