LANGUAGE SKILLS AND ACADEMIC GROWTH ARE CONNECTED

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Language is the foundation of communicating our thoughts, wants, ideas, and much more. There are various forms of communication which uses:

• Gesturing

• Listening

• Reading

• Speaking

• Writing

In order to achieve academic success, it is required for students to have acquiring literacy skills such as reading comprehension, automatic recognition of sight words, reading speed and accuracy, and learning and applying phonics rules. Writing requires a higher deductive reasoning task which includes planning, organizing a thought, and ability to formulate those thoughts in a report writing.   Expanding vocabulary skills such as word definition, the relationships between words (compound words, antonyms, synonyms) impact the ability to understand words, write creatively, and communicate effectively with peers and adults.

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WHAT TYPES OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS ARE COMMON AND HOW DO THEY IMPACT STUDENTS?

 

Studies show that children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level. They may struggle with reading, have difficulty understanding and expressing language, misunderstand social cues, avoid attending school, show poor judgment, and have difficulty with tests. Difficulty in learning to listen, speak, read, or write can result from problems in language development.

• Articulation or Speech sound disorders – Difficulty pronouncing sounds, (e.g., lisp, difficulty articulating certain sounds, such as “l” “s” or  “wabbit” instead of “rabbit”)

Language Disorders–

• Expressive language disorder: Difficulty using words to express wants, needs, ideas and thoughts

• Receptive language disorder: Trouble understanding and following directions, instructions, vocabulary words, stories, conversations etc.

• Cognitive-communication disorders – Limited thinking skills including perception, memory, judgment, awareness, reasoning, intellect and imagination and executive function skills

• Stuttering (fluency) disorders – Interruption in the ability to produce fluent speech that may include hesitations, repetitions, prolongations of sounds or words

• Voice Disorders – Quality of voice that may include hoarseness, nasality, volume (too loud or soft)

 

IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN MATH ABILITIES AND LANGUAGE SKILLS?

Studies have proposed a link between language skills and mathematical achievement suggesting that children with language impairments are at risk for deficits in the acquisition of numerical concepts. Language encompasses several aspects that are relevant to math – especially word problem. Grammar (syntax) plays an important role in math language because it can alter a comparison.  For example, “There are more dogs than cats” is different than “There are more cats than dogs.”

Program Highlights Include:

• Determine areas of strength and weakness in Math functioning

• Recognize that all math is providing a ‘story’ and directions to follow

• Identify and use strategies to address areas of weakness

• Work with computation and application

• Work with word problems in all topic areas

• Identify use of Math in everyday life and areas of interest

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WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF ACADEMIC ISSUES?

Language is the basis of all learning and essential for reading as well as thinking, building vocabulary, following a storyline, making predications and understanding math word problems.

Academic issues, such as learning disabilities and attention disorders, can impact a child’s performance in the classroom, particularly in reading and writing. Language development plays a major role in learning to read and write. Delayed language acquisition can directly impact literacy, writing and vocabulary skills.

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We have found strong success in working with:

• Students with diagnosed Learning or Developmental Disabilities

• Students who are performing well below age or grade level

• Students who recently immigrated to the United States

 

HOW CAN Speech Therapy and Beyond help?

 

Our goal is for each student is to provide the knowledge and opportunities to help reach his or her full academic potential. Through an individualized academic support program, we can successfully introduce and reinforce specified skill sets including:

• Study Skills

• Test Taking Strategies

• Note Taking

• Time Management

• Writing

• Reading Instruction and Comprehension

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In addition, our therapists are trained in programs such as Phoneme Sequencing® Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech (LiPS®  Seeing Stars®: Symbol Imagery for Phonological and Orthographic Processing in Reading and Spelling (SI™); and Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking® (V/V®).

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These programs are designed to help students with different learning styles.

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Get started with an introductory call to discuss how a licensed speech and language pathologist can help you achieve your goals.