Literacy skills include the abilities to communicate by sharing (writing) and receiving (reading) written information.


Speech-Language Pathologists can support literacy skills in a variety of ways:

Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken language. It's a critical skill for reading and spelling success, as it helps children learn to decode and spell words. Activities may include rhyming games, identifying beginning and ending sounds, and segmenting and blending sounds.

Phonics and Decoding

Speech-Language Pathologists help clients understand the relationship between letters and sounds. They teach phonics rules, letter-sound correspondence, and decoding (sounding out) strategies that are essential for reading.

Reading Fluency

Speech-Language Pathologists work on improving reading fluency by helping individuals read with accuracy, expression, and appropriate pacing. They may use strategies like repeated reading and modelling fluent reading.

Comprehension Skills

Speech-Language Pathologists assist individuals in developing comprehension skills, which involve understanding and interpreting the content of written material. Activities may include summarizing, making predictions, and asking questions while reading.

Writing Skills

Speech therapists support the development of writing skills by helping individuals with spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and organization. They also encourage creative writing to enhance expressive language.