Which approach is effective for children with reading difficulties?

Which approach is effective for children with reading difficulties?

• A. Phonemic-awareness training alone
• B. Supplemental literacy programs
• C. Group speech therapy sessions
• D. Intensive phonemic-awareness treatment

Answer: (D)

Intensive phonemic-awareness treatment is effective for children with reading difficulties because it focuses on enhancing the foundational skills needed for reading. Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. This skill is crucial for decoding words during reading. When children struggle with reading, they often have difficulties with these phonemic skills, which can impede their ability to sound out words and understand text. Intensive treatment typically involves targeted, systematic instruction that goes beyond general awareness activities, allowing children to practice phoneme segmentation, blending, and manipulation in depth. This approach has been shown to significantly improve reading proficiency by directly addressing these core skills. Furthermore, the intensity of the treatment helps reinforce the learning and builds confidence in the child's ability to read. In contrast, while supplemental literacy programs may provide useful resources and additional support, they might not focus specifically enough on phonemic awareness to address the unique needs of children with reading difficulties. Similarly, group speech therapy sessions might not offer the individualized attention required to effectively target phonemic awareness at the intensity necessary for significant improvement. Phonemic-awareness training alone may also lack the comprehensive and intensive approach that is needed to cultivate the necessary reading skills effectively. Therefore, the intensive phon

Intensive phonemic-awareness treatment is effective for children with reading difficulties because it focuses on enhancing the foundational skills needed for reading. Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. This skill is crucial for decoding words during reading. When children struggle with reading, they often have difficulties with these phonemic skills, which can impede their ability to sound out words and understand text.

Intensive treatment typically involves targeted, systematic instruction that goes beyond general awareness activities, allowing children to practice phoneme segmentation, blending, and manipulation in depth. This approach has been shown to significantly improve reading proficiency by directly addressing these core skills. Furthermore, the intensity of the treatment helps reinforce the learning and builds confidence in the child's ability to read.

In contrast, while supplemental literacy programs may provide useful resources and additional support, they might not focus specifically enough on phonemic awareness to address the unique needs of children with reading difficulties. Similarly, group speech therapy sessions might not offer the individualized attention required to effectively target phonemic awareness at the intensity necessary for significant improvement. Phonemic-awareness training alone may also lack the comprehensive and intensive approach that is needed to cultivate the necessary reading skills effectively. Therefore, the intensive phon