Literacy Difficulties 

Literacy is the ability to read and write and it is important to be able to fully participate in everyday life activities and navigate an individual’s surroundings. Literacy is important for academic performance, employment, peer relationships, socialising and maintaining  independence/safety.

Children

During the early school years, literacy in children revolves around a concept known as ‘phonological awareness’. These skills form the foundations of reading and spelling. They include the ability to recognise letters and sounds, break words into individual sounds and blend sounds together to read words.

Adults

Adults may also experience literacy difficulties. These difficulties may have been present since childhood or may start to develop difficulties reading, writing and spelling following a medical episode such as a stroke or seizure. As reading and writing is heavily reliant on speech and language skills, individuals may also have a speech sound or language disorder if they have challenges with literacy.

Common signs and symptoms

• Avoidance of reading tasks

• Difficulty reading out loud

• Difficulty recognising sounds

• Difficulty sound out words

• Difficulty summarising a story

• Difficulty understanding what was just read

• Poor alphabet and sound knowledge

• Reversal of sounds in words e.g., ‘b’ and ‘d’, ‘p’ and ‘q’

• Slow and laborious reading

• Spelling difficulty

Conditions

• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Conditions that affect processing of information e.g. Auditory Processing Disorder, Visual Processing Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder

• Developmental disabilities

• Dyslexia

• Speech and language disorders

• Visual impairment

• Hearing loss

• Stroke

How can we help?

A Speech Pathology can identify specific areas of difficulty and assist by improving foundational literacy skills or teaching strategies to compensate for literacy difficulties.