This SIG 1 activity focuses on how speech sound disorders (SSDs) can have an impact on children’s literacy skills and development.

The first article describes the phonological awareness (PA) skills of children with SSDs and compares the relationships between types of speech errors to strengths and weaknesses in their phonological awareness abilities.

The second article is a tutorial that aims to provide evidence that supports the use of print and print referencing in speech therapy sessions with children who have SSDs.

The third article examines the available evidence for intervention frameworks that support literacy skill development, specifically within the context of SSD intervention.

The fourth article reviews why SSDs put children at risk for word reading difficulties and how speech-language pathologists can integrate foundational skills to reduce this risk.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• discuss the clinical implications of phonological awareness deficits for many children with speech sound disorders
• list the three ways phonological awareness training can be integrated into therapy for children with speech sound disorders
• identify the ways in which children with speech sound disorders are at risk for literacy deficits
• formulate an assessment and treatment plan that measures foundational word reading skills at the appropriate developmental and instructional levels for children with SSD

Assessment Type
Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

Articles in This Course

1. Beyond Sounds: Decoding Speech Errors and Phonological Awareness in Preschoolers by Françoise Brosseau-Lapré, and Elizabeth Roepke, Published online April 19, 2024
2. Print-Rich Speech Sound Therapy Sessions: The Theory Behind It and Plans for Implementation by Mary Allison Moody, Catherine C. Timm-Fulkerson, Jennifer Westmoreland, Lindsay R. Dennis, and Kelly Farquharson, Published online April 5, 2024
3. Literacy-Based Intervention for Children With Speech Sound Disorders: A Review of the Literature by Kathryn L. Cabbage and Dana Algeo-Nichols, Published online July 4, 2024