Could Expressive & Receptive Language be at the Core of your Child’s Reading Comprehension Challenges?

Reading comprehension is a vital skill for elementary children to develop starting right when they begin reading. Teachers and parents work diligently to make sure their students are understanding what they read, making connections between it and what they already know and thinking deeply about all of it.

Understanding language is a vital component of reading comprehension. And while there are many useful tips for helping students along, if expressive and receptive language is at the core of what is slowing them down, speech-language intervention might be necessary.

Reading Comprehension Challenges May Look Like…  

If your child cracks jokes instead of attempting to answer a question about what they’ve read, they may be struggling with comprehension. They may act uninterested or explain what happened instead of appropriately answering a “when” or “why” question. This can be because they are struggling to make inferences.

Avoidance behaviors are a common sign of a readion comprehension challenge. A child may find reasons to get out of their seat, avoid the assignment, and may even exhibit disruptive behaviors.

They may also struggle to answer the most basic questions of who, what, when, where or why after listening to an oral presentation.

Expressive Language and Reading Comprehension

Signs of Reading Comprehension Challenges

  • Difficulty understanding what is being read to them
  • Difficulty answering questions about what was read to them
  • Difficulty with sequencing events
  • Retelling stories in an organized manner

If you notice any of these indicators in your child, it is best to seek a speech-language pathologist to have your child evaluated. It could be expressive and receptive language skills that need work for your child to improve their reading comprehension skills. The therapist will be able to identify and target areas of difficulty for your child with activities and practices geared towards their specific needs. Call today. 704-845-0561