The Effect of Language Delays on Reading and Writing Skills

A child with a language delay may have difficulties with:

• Understanding oral directions.

• Vocabulary skills.
• Using complete sentences or correct grammar.
• Completing assignments independently.
• Becoming easily frustrated.
• Learning the relationship between letters and sounds.
• Discriminating between sounds.
• Learning sight words.
• "Guessing" at words based on pictures or the beginning sound.
• Spelling.
• Fluent oral reading (not sounding "choppy").
• Forming letters and words on paper.
• Organizing thoughts on paper.
• Reading comprehension.

Here are some suggestions for things you can do at home:

• Read books with your child. Make it a special and enjoyable time together. If your child sees that you enjoy reading, it's likely that he/she will see reading as fun! Also, reading books introduces your child to new vocabulary and allow him/her to hear grammatically correct sentences structures.
• Promote phonemic awareness. Provide opportunities for word play through rhyming words, songs, chants, etc. Talk about how the words rhyme, begin with the same sounds or end with the same sound. For example, the book titled Brown Bear, Brown Bear says "Brown Bear, What do you see? I see a Blue Horse looking at me." When reading, you could point out that "brown and bear begin with the same letter "b" and "see/me" are rhyming words.
• Provide new experiences. Exposing your child to new experiences provides opportunities for increasing vocabulary. For example, take your child to a farm or zoo or a walk in the park and talk about what you see.
• Encourage your child. A child that struggles academically needs lots of positive feedback to encourage success. Use phrases like, "You're doing a great job, I see you're working very hard, etc."

Pam Heller, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist