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Navigating the complexities of dyslexia in children can be a daunting journey for parents, but with the guidance of specialised professionals like those at SLCN, a pathway toward effective communication and learning becomes more transparent and more attainable.
Speech pathologists play an important role in supporting children with dyslexia. They have specialized training in language development and can assess and treat the oral language difficulties often associated with dyslexia. By working together with teachers, parents, and the children themselves, speech pathologists help facilitate the development of reading, writing, and spelling skills.
Assessment and Diagnosis
When a child is suspected of having dyslexia, a speech pathologist can comprehensively assess their language abilities. This typically includes evaluations of:
- Phonological awareness: the ability to identify and manipulate the sounds in spoken words
- Decoding skills: the ability to apply knowledge of letter-sound relationships to pronounce written words correctly
- Reading fluency: the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression
- Reading comprehension: the ability to understand the meaning of text
- Spelling: encoding words using knowledge of letter-sound correspondence
- Oral language skills: the ability to use spoken language to express knowledge and ideas
Based on the assessment results, the speech pathologist can determine if the child meets the diagnostic criteria for dyslexia. A formal diagnosis is essential for getting the child the appropriate educational support and accommodations.
Therapy and Skill Development
Speech pathologists help dyslexic children develop the specific language skills necessary for reading. This often involves explicit, systematic instruction in phonics—teaching how letters and letter combinations represent the sounds of spoken language. Effective interventions target phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies.
In therapy sessions, speech pathologists use multisensory techniques to help students make connections between what they see, what they hear, and what they feel as they learn language. For example, they may have the child move their finger under each sound in a word as they practice decoding. Writing words and sentences can help reinforce letter patterns and spelling rules. Listening to audiobooks while following the text builds awareness of the relationships between sounds and the written word.
The child’s specific areas of difficulty and age determine which interventions and accommodations the speech pathologist recommends. The speech pathologist monitors the child’s progress throughout the therapy process and adjusts the goals and strategies needed to optimize language and literacy development.
Consultation and Collaboration
Speech pathologists often consult and collaborate with classroom teachers to implement dyslexia interventions and accommodations. Therapy is most effective when the strategies are integrated throughout the child’s day and reinforced in multiple settings. For example, the speech pathologist may provide materials for the classroom teacher to use in reading and writing lessons. They may demonstrate ways to adapt classroom assignments to allow the dyslexic child to complete their work successfully.
Parent education and support is another key aspect of the speech pathologist’s role. They help parents understand their child’s unique learning needs and how to support language and literacy development at home best. Speech pathologists may recommend apps, games, and strategies parents can use to practice skills engagingly with their children. With parent involvement, children with dyslexia can make even greater gains.
Ongoing Support
Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, so children require ongoing support as they progress through school. Speech pathologists periodically reassess the child’s language and literacy skills to determine if therapy goals have been achieved and identify new targets. They help the child transition between grade levels, communicating with the teachers to ensure proper supports are in place.
As children with dyslexia enter higher grades, the focus of therapy shifts to higher-level language and metalinguistic skills. Speech pathologists address the language underpinnings of written expression, reading comprehension, and studying and organizational strategies.
They help the student develop self-advocacy skills and learn to use assistive technology that can aid their academic success.
With the help of a speech pathologist and other professionals trained in dyslexia, children with dyslexia can make significant progress in reading and experience academic success. Early identification and treatment are the keys to helping dyslexic students reach their full potential. A speech pathologist’s unique expertise in language development is an essential part of the educational team for any child with dyslexia.
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