Phonological Awareness Approach

The Phonological Awareness Approach is a speech therapy method that seamlessly itegrates intervention for articulation and phonological awareness.  This approach is supported by current research and is easy to incorporate into everyday therapy sessions. 

 

According to research, phonological awareness skills are imperative for reading acquisition, and children with speech sound disorders are at a high risk for delayed phonological awareness abilities.  The research also shows that development of phonological awareness facilitates improvement in overall phonology and articulation.    

 

Once you begin to use the Phonological Awareness Approach, you will see that it is easy and beneficial to target both articulation and p.a. skills simultaneously!

 

 

Highlights:

 

-Children with speech sound disorders typically have low phonological awareness skills

 

-Low phonological awareness leads to difficulties with reading and subsequent problems

 

-Research shows a link between phonological awareness and increased phonology and articulation

 

-You will see improved articulation skills in your students when you incorporate p.a. skill development!

 

 

See the Activities page for therapy ideas that use a Phonological Awareness Approach. Also, check out the Apps page for a link to the My Speech Friends App!

 

     

     

                                                   References

 

Bowen, C. (1998). Developmental phonological disorders. A     

              practical guide for families and teachers. Melbourne:   

              ACER Press.

 

Carroll, J.M., & Snowling, M.J. (2004). Language and

              phonological skills in children at high risk of reading

              difficulties. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,

              45, 631-640.                                         

 

Gillon, G.T. (2000). The efficacy of phonological awareness

              intervention for children with spoken language

              impairment. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in

              Schools, 31, 126-141.

 

Hodson, B. (2007). Evaluating and Enhancing Children’s

              Phonological Systems. Wichita, KS: PhonoComp

              Publications.

 

Justice, L. & Ezell, H. (2002). Use of storybook reading to increase

              print awareness in at-risk children. American Journal of

              Speech-Language Pathology, 11, 17-29.

 

Rvachew, S., & Grawburg, M (2006). Correlates of phonological

              awareness in preschoolers with speech sound disorders.

              Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 49,

              74-87.

 

What is Phonological Awareness?

It is the understanding that language has structure and patterns and that words can be broken down into smaller units.

 

Phonological awareness includes tasks such as:

 

-rhyming

-alliteration

-letter i.d.

-segmenting 

-blending