🗣️✨ The Powerful Connection Between Speech Therapy and Literacy

When parents hear the words speech therapy, they often think about helping a child say sounds more clearly — like turning “wabbit” into “rabbit.”But speech therapy supports so much more than just pronunciation. In fact, it lays many of the foundation skills for literacy — reading, spelling, and writing!

Let’s explore how strong speech and language skills help children become confident readers and communicators. 📚💬

💡 1. Language Is the Building Block of Reading

Before children ever learn letters or words on a page, they need a strong oral language foundation.That means understanding and using words, sentences, and stories when speaking and listening.

Speech therapy helps children:

• Understand vocabulary and sentence structures

• Retell stories and describe events

• Ask and answer “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why” questions

When kids can express and understand ideas through spoken language, they’re better prepared to make sense of written language later on.

🔤 2. Speech Sounds and Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness — the ability to hear, identify, and play with sounds in words — is one of the strongest predictors of reading success.Speech therapists help children:

• Hear and produce specific sounds (like /s/, /r/, or /k/)

• Recognize rhyming words (“cat–hat,” “dog–frog”)

• Break words into parts (“sun-shine,” “ba-na-na”)

These early sound skills help children connect spoken sounds to written letters, a critical step in learning to read and spell.

📖 3. Vocabulary and Comprehension Grow Together

The more words a child knows, the easier it is for them to understand what they read.Speech therapy naturally expands vocabulary through play, books, and conversation — helping children link new words to real-life experiences.

When a child learns that “enormous” means “very big,” they’re building comprehension skills that help them picture and understand stories.

✍️ 4. From Talking to Writing

Writing is just another form of storytelling — but on paper!When children can organize their thoughts verbally (“First we went to the park, then we saw ducks”), they’re better prepared to organize them in writing later.

Speech therapy supports narrative skills, sequencing, and sentence structure — all crucial for strong writing development.

❤️ 5. How Parents Can Support Speech and Literacy at Home

You don’t need fancy tools — just connection, conversation, and curiosity!Here are a few simple ways to help:

• Read aloud daily. Talk about pictures, make predictions, and ask questions.

• Play with sounds. Try rhyming games or clapping out syllables.

• Build vocabulary in everyday life. Describe what you see, hear, and do.

• Encourage storytelling. Ask your child to retell what happened at school or during play.

  
  

🌟 The Takeaway

Speech therapy doesn’t just help children talk — it helps them read, write, and think.By strengthening speech, language, and sound awareness, we’re giving children the keys to unlock literacy and lifelong learning.

If you’re curious about your child’s speech or language milestones, our team offers free screenings for children ages 0–5. Early support can make a lasting difference! 💕

📞 Contact us at 815-905-7028] or visit info@pfgtherapy.com to learn more.