You likely guessed that the answer to this question is yes, or why would I have chosen to write a post on this topic?
There are many skills that go into being able to read fluently, and so there are many different areas where breakdowns or challenges can occur.
A man by the name of Dr. Hollis Scarborough, a literacy expert and psychologist, created something called the “Reading Rope” model to explain this. Just as a real rope is made up of several tightly woven strands, reading requires a combination of different skills under both language comprehension and word recognition.
In looking at that model, it’s not much of a stretch to see how a speech pathologist may be able to assist with reading. Really, every part of reading except the ability to see and track, falls in our wheelhouse and training.
That leads me to the first suggestion I always make when a teacher, parent, or student comes to me with reading concerns:
Please get your child’s vision tracking and focusing tested first.
One great option in Utah County is New Sight Vision Therapy Clinic in Provo. Sawyer Speech and Language Therapy is not directly affiliated with them, but has seen the benefits of many clients doing vision therapy to correct issues with tracking.
This is different than determining if a child may need glasses, has 20/20 vision, etc. If a person’s eyes are not tracking or focusing properly, reading is going to be very difficult, tiring, and sometimes even painful (so no surprise a child might avoid it at all costs). And the best part? It is completely treatable with proper vision therapy. Amazing, right?
That doesn’t mean that speech therapy is unnecessary, however. Many people do not realize that speech pathologists often help in identifying and diagnosing dyslexia and other reading challenges, and are a valuable member of the treatment team. Most children with dyslexia will benefit from phonological training. There may also be issues with working memory that a speech pathologist can address in therapy.
It can sometimes seem like a big mystery discovering why someone is struggling to read, but there is help available! Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions and concerns, and we will assist you in figuring out next steps and the best treatment plan for your child.