My Child Is Struggling With Spelling and Decoding: How Can a Speech-Language Pathologist Help?
If your child’s teacher has mentioned concerns with spelling or decoding words, you may be wondering what that really means — and how to help. Families in Monmouth County and Ocean County are often surprised to learn that Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) play an important role in supporting reading and spelling skills.
What Are Spelling and Decoding?
Decoding is the ability to sound out words by connecting letters to their sounds. For example, knowing that the letters sh make the /sh/ sound.
Spelling is the reverse — taking sounds and correctly representing them with letters and patterns.
Both skills are part of literacy development and are essential for fluent reading and confident writing.
Why Children Struggle With Spelling and Decoding
Children may have trouble for many reasons, including:
Weak phonological awareness (trouble recognizing and playing with sounds in words).
Limited knowledge of phonics (letters and sounds).
Difficulty with morphology (prefixes, suffixes, and root words).
Memory and attention challenges that make it hard to retain spelling patterns.
How an SLP Can Help
SLPs are trained in the connection between speech, language, and literacy. Here’s how therapy can support your child:
1. Phonological Awareness
We build foundational skills like rhyming, blending sounds (c-a-t → cat), and segmenting sounds, which directly improve decoding.
2. Phonics and Word Study
SLPs use structured, evidence-based approaches such as Orton-Gillingham and speech-to-print methods to strengthen sound-letter connections.
3. Morphology and Vocabulary
By teaching prefixes, suffixes, and root words, we help children decode unfamiliar words and expand their vocabulary.
4. Spelling Strategies
We teach rules for spelling patterns (like when to use -ck vs. -k) and provide memory supports for tricky words.
5. Reading Comprehension
Once decoding improves, children can shift focus to understanding what they read — an area where SLPs also provide support.
Why Choose an SLP in Monmouth or Ocean County?
In schools across Monmouth County and Ocean County, SLPs are often part of the literacy support team. In private practice, we can provide individualized therapy that targets your child’s unique strengths and challenges, helping them build confidence and independence with reading and spelling.
Next Steps for Parents
If your child is struggling with decoding or spelling, don’t wait for frustration to build. Early support makes a lasting difference.
At NRC Therapy Services, I offer speech, language, and literacy interventions for children in Monmouth County and Ocean County, NJ. Together, we can give your child the tools they need to succeed in reading, writing, and beyond.
📞 Contact NRC Therapy Services today to schedule a consultation.