Kidmunicate Reading Literacy Program because oral language (speech) and reading are linked.

Learning to read is a complex process. The 26 letters of the English alphabet must be associated with approximately 44 sounds called phonemes. These phonemes are then used, alone or blended together, to form slightly over 1 million English language words and these words need to be associated with a meaning. Wow, yet the human brain makes it so easy.

Unfortunately it’s not an easy process for everyone, especially children who have or had a speech-language disorder.
To be a good reader, a child must be able to recognize and identify letters and have an awareness of phonemes, the sound parts of words. These are the building blocks of both written and spoken communication, so kids with speech-language disorders are susceptible to reading issues too.

For a more detailed look into the connection read this study called The Interface Between Spoken and Written Language: Developmental Disorders by Charles Hulme and Margaret Snowling.

Here is a list of speech and language issues that may lead to reading issues:

  • Speech sounds
    • Does not seem to recognize a pattern of rhymes.
    • Has difficulty identifying letters and letter clusters.
    • Has difficulty associating letters and letter clusters with sounds.
    • Has difficulty blending sounds to form words or separating words into sounds.
    • Emphasizes the wrong letters or letter clusters in words.
    • Consistently mispronounces words.
  • Written language
    • Cannot identify and name numbers and letters in children’s picture books.
    • Occasionally holds books upside down while “reading” through them.
  • Expressive language
    • Has trouble retrieving words.
      • Uses “thing”, “stuff”, “that”, etc. as a substitute for a specific term.
      • Uses interjections like, “um” and “you know”.
    • Uses short sentences with limited vocabulary.
    • Has difficulty providing specific directions or explanations.
    • Tells stories in a disorganized way.
    • Uses poor grammar.
    • Shows no interest in writing.
  • Receptive Language (Comprehension)
    • Has difficulty responding to all of the parts of a multi-step process or asks for the same instructions numerous times.
    • Has difficulty understanding spatial terms (behind, above, etc.)
    • Has difficulty following stories.
    • Shows no interest in looking at / reading books.

Kidmunicate Reading Literacy Program

Due to the relationship between oral language skills and reading, many of the kids we treat for speech issues also have reading issues. We do not want these children to fall behind in reading, so we have developed an affordable reading literacy program. The program is administered by a Pennsylvania licensed educator Nikki Gormley and is offered to all children who are struggling with reading whether they had / have a speech issue or not. We use the Visualizing and Verbalizing® program developed by Lindamoon-Bell®• and Sounds in Motion® program developed by Frances Santore MS CCC-SLP.

Kidmunication Point

Learning to read is a long process that begins during the early stages of development, well before school. That’s why it is so important to read to, and with, your child from the day they are born.

As your child grows, monitor them for the warning signs listed above. If you suspect that your child has a speech-language issue seek help from a certified speech language pathologist and get an evaluation. This is doubly important because early intervention for oral language issues may eliminate or reduce future reading issues.

We have complied a list of great children’s books organized by sounds. If your child is being challenged by a particular sound, read books that emphasize that sound. Here are some tips on how to read to infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school aged children.

Finally, most kids learn to read by first grade. The children who do not learn to read by first grade will likely not catch up on their own, they’ll need extra help.

 

Kidmunicate is NOT Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes nor is it affiliated with, certified, endorsed, licensed monitored or sponsored by Lindamood-Bell, Nanci Bell, Phyllis Lindamood or Pat Lindamood. Linda mood-Bell – an international organization creating and implementing unique instructional methods and programs for quality intervention to advance language and literacy skills – in no way endorse or monitors the services provided by Kidmunicate.