Role of Speech & Language Development for the Development of Literacy
The early stages of speech and language recognition have a profound impact on the development of reading and writing skills later in childhood. Reading aloud to a child is the most effective tool in building the foundation for literacy. Some common speech and language disorders are often recognized early and can be overcome with help from specialists.
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Early Language Development
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Children begin to acquire language skills at birth. As they grow, these skills become more complex. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the very early stages of language and speech development provide the skills children will apply later to reading and writing. The period that children spend developing these skills is thus referred to as "emergent literacy." During this time, children begin to understand what words mean and recognize them in everyday contexts: logos, street signs, grocery lists, books, etc.
Spoken Language and Literacy
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Children entering school with strong speech and language skills are more likely to quickly and successfully acquire literacy skills, the ASHA insists. Phonological awareness---the ability to recognize that each word is made up of several speech sounds---is a specific skill that promotes early reading and writing success. The ASHA says children must learn to divide words into separate sounds and then "map" them onto letters in print. Simple exercises, such as rhyming, alliteration and isolating each sound that makes up a word, can help develop these skills.
Pre-Literacy Skills
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In her article, "Encouraging Pre-Literacy Skills," Caroline Bowen explains that reading aloud to children is the "single most important activity" you can use to encourage early speech skills and, eventually, early reading fluency. She recommends using stories that children are interested in, rather than forcing reading material upon them. She even suggests reading aloud to yourself in the presence of children to demonstrate that reading is pleasant and useful. It can also help to ask questions about the reading material and encourage children to ask questions.
Speech and Language Disorders
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Bowen distinguishes two language disorders that can cause difficulty in learning to read and write: childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and specific language impairments (SLI). Children with CAS have difficulty with the motor skills involved in the programming and planning of speech. SLI is the inability to understand spoken or written language, and in turn the inability to use language. These disorders are sometimes combined. In some cases, intervention by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help children overcome language disorders.
Speech-Language Pathologists
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An SLP can often identify whether a child is at risk for language disorder during the emergent literacy stage. According the ASHA, SLPs work closely with teachers, families and caregivers in an attempt to prevent literacy-related difficulties. The AHSA suggests that the earlier an SLP intervention takes place, the more effective it will be. However, older children functioning at the emergent literacy level can often strengthen the skills necessary to read and write.
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