Getting off to a Good Start

Reading is a language-based skill that impacts all other aspects of learning. Young children start building the foundation to becoming good readers before they even start to read! This foundation consists of expressive skills such as rhyming, counting syllables, singing songs and nursery rhymes, as well as receptive skills like being able to “see the picture” in their head and truly understanding the concept. Children take this foundation as they move forward…into Kindergarten where they start to read, into 3rd and 4th grade where they start to get word problems in math, and into 6th grade and beyond where they are expected to read difficult text books, chapter books, and standardized tests with randomly generated stories given no context clues nor pictures. Students who are able to quickly decode text, understand its meaning, and synthesize their own thoughts and answers are likely to be at a great advantage compared to their peers who may not have gotten that strong foundation.

So When Should my Child Start Reading Intervention?

Intervention for reading should start as early as possible. The sooner this foundation for reading is set in place, the easier it will be for your child to start reading and the more likely it is that your child will actually enjoy reading.

Beginning with a Comprehensive Assessment

At Grow with Words, our therapists are trained to assess in a holistic manner in order to make sure your child is building the strongest foundation possible. Our goal is to build your child up so they can take these skills into their world and seamlessly express their thoughts/ideas and understand the thoughts/ideas of others! We begin with a comprehensive evaluation to determine how we can best deliver these tools to you/your child. Every child is different. Some have difficulties with breaking down the individual sounds of the word (phonemic awareness). Others are able to sound out words but are not able to identify that word on the next page without again sounding it out (symbol imagery). The Speech-Language Pathologist will determine the nature of the problem and create a plan of care that is individualized based on each client’s needs in order to deliver the best services possible.

I’m an Adult…Is it too late to Start Reading Intervention?

Absolutely not! Later interventions, even into adulthood, can still be effective to teach missing skills that may have been overlooked in the early years. Any age or abilities, we are eager to help!

Wondering if Reading Intervention could benefit you/your child? Check out our blog post “Reading Intervention: 5 Signs to Look For Before Age 5” for more information, or call us for a free 15 minute consultation @ (602) 345-1785.