Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! --- Today Sydney Bassard, a speech therapist joins us to delve into the fascinating connection between literacy and speech development. She works with individuals with dyslexia and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. We'll explore everything from phonemic awareness hierarchies and wordplay to practical tips for parents on integrating literacy into daily routines. Plus, we'll touch on what you can expect in a literacy-focused session with an SLP and the critical importance of early intervention. In this episode you'll hear about: Sydney’s profession as a speech therapist and unique career pathWorking for a reading intervention company during undergradScope of practice for speech language pathologists (SLPs)From birth to end of life careDifferent focuses within SLP training programs including Medical-focused programs, School and pediatric-focused programs, Programs with a literacy emphasisSydney’s place of practice: The Listening SLP, Charlotte, North CarolinaDyslexia, literacy-based challenges, and deaf and hard of hearingCreating equitable access to health information through social mediaMention of a research grant on writing interventions for deaf and hard of hearing kidsPhonemic Awareness and its Role in LiteracyDefinition and explanation of Phonemic AwarenessHierarchy of phonemic awareness skillsWord level, syllable level, initial soundsComplex tasks like segmenting, blending, and manipulationImportance of these skills for later reading abilityDevelopmental Stages and Speech DevelopmentTypical ages for different stages of phonemic awarenessStarting word play around age twoOnset and rhyme awareness by ages three to fourSegmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds by ages four to fiveImportance of developmental readiness for learning to readPractical Tips for ParentsIntegrating literacy into daily routines, Examples: Car rides, bath time, cookingConcept of wordplay and making learning engagingLiteracy tips backed by scientific researchLess effective literacy trick examples: Guessing words from pictures, reliance on visualsSpeech Disorders and LiteracyDifferentiating speech sound production issues from reading difficultiesImportance of collaboration with SLPsEvaluating intelligibility and language comprehensionWhen to Seek Speech TherapySelf-assessment questions for parentsChecking for language processing and comprehension difficultiesEvaluating speech intelligibilityRecommendation for early interventionQuestions to ask potential SLPsExperience, therapeutic style, comfort with specific diagnosesImportance of honesty and fitSchool-Based Vs. Private Practice for Literacy InterventionDifferences in literacy support between school-based SLPs and private practitionersRoles of reading interventionists in schoolsSLP caseload considerations for not covering literacy extensivelyExpectations for Literacy-Based Speech Therapy SessionsGeneral activities in literacy-focused sessionsWord reading, spelling, sentence reading, teaching spelling rulesTailoring sessions based on age and needsDifferences between play-based approaches for younger children and structured sessions for older students Links and Resources From Today's Show Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Vision Therapy Screening Assessment from HomeschoolOTHandwriting Focus Group from HomeschoolOTWhat is Literacy? How to Support Literacy Skills in Speech TherapyReading and Writing (Literacy) from ASHAEpisode 19: Understanding Screen Time Effects on Children’s Development and RelationshipsEpisode 33: Dyslexia Demystified: Marianne Sunderland’s Approach and Homeschooling TipsEpisode 34: Hyperlexia Uncovered: Navigating Challenges and Developing Strengths Connect with our Guest, Sydney Bassard Sydney Bassard, MSP, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in working with individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing and literacy. She owns The Listening SLP, which is her private practice and social media brand. Sydney was noted as a Distinguished Early Career Professional in 2020 and an Innovator in 2023 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for her work centered on the equity of health information. Through her social media page, she engages with professionals and parents on the topics of hearing loss and literacy. In 2023, Sydney co-authored a children's book, A Day with Mom, with her mother. The book tells the story of a little girl who is excited to spend the day with her mom on a typical Saturday. Sydney is actively involved with research related to both clinic Connect with Sarah Collins Follow Sarah on Instagram @homeschoolOTJoin the Facebook Group: Homeschool and Occupational Therapy with Sarah Collins, homeschoolOTVisit the Homeschool OT Website
