Did you know Speech Pathologists do so much more than just help children with speech? They’re reading and writing superheroes! Our speech pathology team at MTS have all done extra training in teaching literacy. Here’s how we can support your child’s learning journey.
Learning to read can be hard—kids need to connect letters with sounds and blend them into words. For some children, this process is tricky, especially if they have trouble recognising sounds in words. This is where our speech pathologists come in!
Our speech pathologists at My Therapy Space use a phonics approach to help kids build the skills they need to become confident readers.
Why Do Some Kids Struggle with Reading?
Reading starts with hearing and understanding sounds. Before kids can read words, they need to:
- Hear the difference between sounds (like the difference between bat and pat).
- Recognise that words are made up of individual sounds (like c-a-t).
- Connect those sounds to letters on a page.
Children with speech and language difficulties often find these steps hard. If a child struggles with pronouncing words, recognising sounds, or remembering letter patterns, reading can feel overwhelming. That’s where speech therapy helps!
How Does Speech Pathology Help with Reading?
At MTS our Speech pathologists use structured phonics programs like Sounds-Write to help children develop reading skills step by step. Here’s how it works:
1. Hearing and Recognising Sounds (Phonemic Awareness)
Before reading, children need to tune in to the sounds in words. Our speech pathologist will help them:
- Listen for beginning, middle, and ending sounds in words.
- Play games that focus on breaking words into sounds (e.g., What sounds do you hear in “dog”?).
- Blend sounds together to make words (c-a-t = cat).
2. Linking Sounds to Letters (Phonics)
Once kids can hear sounds in words, they need to match them with letters. Sounds-Write teaches children:
- That letters represent sounds (e.g., “s” makes a /s/ sound).
- That some sounds have different spellings (e.g., “ai” and “ay” both make the long A sound).
- To break words into chunks and sound them out.
3. Blending Sounds to Read Words
A key part of reading is blending—putting sounds together to read words smoothly. Speech pathologists use Sounds-Write techniques to:
- Help kids blend simple words like m-a-t → mat.
- Build confidence by practicing words in a structured way.
- Use multi-sensory activities (like tapping sounds on fingers) to make learning easier.
4. Breaking Words Apart to Spell (Segmenting)
Reading and spelling go hand in hand! Speech therapists help kids:
- Break words into sounds to spell them correctly (dog → d-o-g).
- Recognise common spelling patterns.
- Write words while saying the sounds aloud.
5. Building Fluency and Confidence
Once kids master these skills, they practice reading smoothly and accurately. Speech therapists help them:
- Read short words, then move to longer ones.
- Learn to read without guessing—instead, they sound out each word.
- Read sentences and books that match their skill level so they feel successful.
Why Early Help Matters
If a child struggles with reading, early intervention is key! The earlier they get support, the easier it is to build strong reading skills. If your child is finding reading hard, our speech pathologists at My Therapy Space can help them hear, understand, and use sounds correctly—turning frustration into confidence!