Does your child struggle with reading and writing?

As children enter the elementary years, many struggle in the areas of reading and writing.  Literacy is described as more than the ability to read and write.  It involves being able to think, manipulate ideas, and understand how language is used. This is important so that children can organize their thoughts, evaluate events and issues, and know how to effectively communicate with other people.

Research shows that the connections between spoken and written language are well established. If a child has already been identified with difficulties in the area of expressive or receptive language, they may also be at risk for reading and writing difficulties.  Literacy is complex and often children need guidance from professionals specifically trained in this area.

The Speech-Language Pathologist’s knowledge of language acquisition, and their clinical experience in developing individualized programs for children and adolescents, prepares them to assume a variety of roles related to the development of reading and writing. Appropriate roles and responsibilities for SLPs include, but are not limited to:

• Preventing written language problems by fostering language acquisition and emergent literacy
• Identifying children at risk for reading and writing problems
• Assessing reading and writing
• Providing intervention and documenting outcomes for reading and writing
• Assuming other roles, such as providing assistance to general education teachers, parents, and students; advocating for effective literacy practices; and advancing the knowledge base

(American Speech and Hearing Association website)

The Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech (LIPS) is utilized at Pediatric Therapy, Inc.  It is an interactive program using visual, auditory and tactile resources to discover sounds and the letters that accompany them in a creative and fun way.  It is designed to help children achieve success in reading, spelling, and speaking.
 
The Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing Program for Comprehension (VV) is also utilized at Pediatric Therapy, Inc. Through a series of steps, students learn to create detailed mental pictures and integrate imagery with language as a basis for comprehension and thinking.