Oral Language Skills, Written Language Wins: SLPs Helping Unlock Literacy Potential
For parents navigating the sometimes-unclear skies of reading, spelling, and writing, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) might not immediately come to mind. But here’s the twist: the link between oral language skills (think speaking and listening) and literacy is as solid as your strong almond latte on a Monday morning (own order bias!). SLPs, those maestros of language, are uniquely equipped to help your child become a confident reader, speller, and writer (Speech Pathology Australia, 2022).
Professor Pam Snow, an SLP and researcher in language and literacy, emphasises that reading is not a biologically primary skill – it must be explicitly taught. Unlike spoken language, which children acquire naturally through interaction, reading relies on structured instruction and strong oral language foundations (Snow, 2016). She highlights the crucial (and cyclical) role of vocabulary and phonemic awareness in literacy development: “While oral language skills contribute to early reading success, so too does early reading success loop back to oral language skills" (Snow, 2020).
Simply put, if your child struggles with reading, spelling, and/or writing, seeking support from an SLP can help turn the page on their literacy journey.
Spotting Literacy Red Flags: Is It Time to Call for Backup?
Every child learns to read and spell at their own pace, but certain skills should bloom in their first year of formal schooling (we’re looking at you, prep or foundation teachers). If your little learner is missing milestones like recognising letter-sound relationships, retelling simple narrative stories, or reading three-sound words like “cat” or “dog,” it might be time to seek professional advice. The other side of the coin, for bonus points, is if they can already nail tricky tasks like blending sounds (e.g., /m/ /o/ /p/ into “mop”) or writing their own name (Snow, 2020; Snowling & Hulme, 2021; Speech Pathology Australia, 2022)!
Struggles in these areas aren’t a cause for panic—more a cue to act. Early support makes a world of difference, and that’s where collaborations with an SLP shine (Speech Pathology Australia, 2022).
Speech-Language Pathologists: A Complementary Addition to the Team Around the Learner
Think of an SLP as a language detective. When your child gets services from a clinic like Taking Flight Speech, Language and Literacy, they’ll undergo a thorough assessment to pinpoint their strengths and areas of concern. This involves chatting with the child and the child’s family (they know the child best!), liaising with teachers or other professionals, and diving into fun-but-informative tasks to evaluate skills like oral language, phonics, reading accuracy and fluency (automaticity), spelling, and writing (Speech Pathology Australia, 2022).
From there, the real magic happens: crafting a personalised treatment plan. This isn’t a cookie-cutter curriculum—it’s an evidence-based roadmap tailored to your child’s needs. SLPs focus on the “Big Six” essentials of reading: oral language, phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension (Konza, 2014). Each session builds these skills step-by-step (like constructing the world’s most satisfying Lego masterpiece), and actively shares intervention wins with everyone in the team around the learner!
How Parents Can Help (Without Losing Their Sanity!)
Here’s the deal: kids don’t just learn in therapy sessions—they need regular practice at home to lock in those skills. That’s where you come in, superstar parent! Sitting in on your child’s sessions can give you the tools and confidence to support their progress at home.
And no, this doesn’t mean turning your living room into a classroom. Fun, play-based activities like rhyming games, shared reading, and library trips can build phonological awareness and vocabulary without feeling like homework. Think scavenger hunts for words in a book or making up silly rhymes at the dinner table. Even older kids benefit from regular read-aloud time – it’s a low-pressure way to boost comprehension and keep the joy of reading alive (Speech Pathology Australia, 2022).
Jetting Into the Main Point
SLPs bring a different knowledge and skill set to the team around the learner – it’s not contrasting, but rather complementary to the teacher’s great knowledge and skill set (Speech Pathology Australia, 2022). Together, we can crack the code of reading, spelling, and writing for kids, while also empowering parents to join the mission. Whether your child is just starting school or needs a little extra help catching up, reaching out to an SLP could be the best plot twist in their learning journey.
References
Castles, A., Rastle, K., & Nation, K. (2018). Ending the reading wars: Reading acquisition from novice to expert. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 19(1), 5–51.
Konza, D. (2014). Teaching reading: Why the" Fab five" should be the" Big six". Australian Journal of Teacher Education (Online), 39(12), 153-169.
Snow, P. (2016). Oral language competence and the transition to school: Socioeconomic and behavioural factors that influence academic and social success. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 18(3), 256-268. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
Snow, P. (2020, January 5). Updating the language (and literacy) house. The Snow Report. https://pamelasnow.blogspot.com/2020/01/updating-language-and-literacy-house.html
Snowling, M. J., & Hulme, C. (2021). Annual research review: Reading disorders as a window to a wider language vulnerability. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 62(5), 610–627.
Scarborough, H. S. (2001). Connecting early language and literacy to later reading (dis)abilities: Evidence, theory, and practice. In S. B. Neuman & D. K. Dickinson (Eds.), Handbook of early literacy research (pp. 97–110). Guilford Press.
Speech Pathology Australia. (2022). Speech pathology in education practice guideline. Retrieved from Speech Pathology in Education Guidelines
