BRAVE Speech & Language Services
LANGUAGE DELAY
Helping Each Child and Family Find Their BRAVE Voice
WHAT IS ORAL LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
Understanding Their Role In Language Development And Delay
Oral language is the ability to understand and use spoken words to communicate, including skills like listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Literacy refers to the ability to read and write, which builds on oral language skills to help children understand written words and symbols. Strong oral language is a foundation for literacy development, and delays in either area can impact a child’s overall communication and academic success.
How BRAVE Supports Oral Language and Literacy Delays
Comprehensive, Individualized, And Collaborative Care For Children
Comprehensive Assessment
BRAVE conducts thorough evaluations to identify specific oral language and literacy delays, gathering detailed understanding of a child’s strengths, challenges, and developmental needs to guide targeted intervention.
Individualized Therapy
Therapy focuses on improving both oral language and literacy skills, addressing areas like vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and phonological awareness to help children build a strong foundation for communication and reading.
Social Language Groups
BRAVE offers social language groups where children can practice oral language skills with their peers in a structured, supportive environment, enhancing communication, conversation skills, and social interactions.
Parent Training and Coaching
Parents are equipped with practical strategies to support their child’s language and literacy development at home, in order to support consistency and reinforcement of skills learned during therapy.
Literacy Integration
BRAVE incorporates early literacy skills into therapy, using books, storytelling, and writing activities to connect oral language development with reading and writing skills, promoting overall literacy growth.
Community Collaboration
BRAVE collaborates with other professionals to ensure that children receive consistent support across environments helping them succeed in social, academic, and language-based tasks.
KEY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS IN CHILDREN
Common Characteristics That Support Communication And Learning
Vocabulary Development
A strong vocabulary allows both oral language and literacy skills to flourish, as it allows children to understand and express ideas more effectively in speech and writing.
Listening and Comprehension
Oral language involves understanding spoken words and following conversations, while literacy requires the ability to understand written texts, connecting meaning to written symbols.
Sentence Structure and Grammar
Both oral language and literacy rely on the ability to form and understand sentences, using proper grammar and syntax to convey clear and accurate messages.
Phonological Awareness
Literacy involves recognizing and manipulating sounds in words, such as rhyming, segmenting, and blending sounds, which are closely tied to the development of oral language.
Fluency and Expression
Oral language includes the ability to speak fluently and with expression, while literacy includes the ability to read smoothly and with proper expression, conveying meaning from both written and spoken forms.
Communication Skills
Oral language is essential for everyday interactions, while literacy provides a foundation for communicating through writing, allowing for effective communication in both spoken and written forms.
Noticing Delays in Your Child’s Language Development?
Let’s Work Together.
At BRAVE, we offer personalized support for children experiencing language delays, using engaging, evidence-informed approaches that nurture communication skills in a way that’s meaningful and culturally responsive.
- Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can support your child’s language growth.
“Children who struggle to communicate define what it means to be BRAVE in this world.”
– Narmilee Dhayanandhan, Founder of BRAVE –
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ORAL LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
- 1. Grandview Kids Preschool Speech and Language Program: https://grandviewkids.ca/services-programs/speech-language-pathology/; a Durham region government funded hub for children with language delays.
- 2. Right To Read Inquiry Report, Ontario Human Rights Commission; https://www3.ohrc.on.ca/en/right-read-inquiry-report-0; A human rights commission inquiry into the effectiveness of reading instruction in Ontario schools.
GET STARTED WITH BRAVE TODAY
Location
Located in the heart of Ajax, Ontario
Phone
(416) 738-5775
info@bravespeech.ca
Request Consultation
Culturally Responsive Autism Care
Bridging Connection, Compassion, and Co-Regulation