Wednesday, April 24, 2019

How Important is Reading Comprehension

According to the RAND Reading Study group, reading comprehension can be defined as “the process of simultaneously extracting and constructing meaning through interaction and involvement with written language.” As children and adults, we read more often than we realize. Whether it is a classroom assignment, those dreaded standardized assessments, the rules at our neighborhood community center, the directions for building our newest IKEA purchase, a recipe, a medication bottle, a work e-mail, a friendly text message, etc. Being able to understand what we are reading is an important component of our everyday lives. The skills we develop during our school-aged years grow with us and serve a purpose across our lifespans.

If a child struggles with understanding what they are reading in school, it can be beneficial for them to have increased exposure to and practice with various comprehension strategies. These strategies can target all areas of reading comprehension from basic skills to higher order thinking skills. Introducing children to various strategies that they can use inside and outside of the classroom may provide them with the knowledge and confidence they need to be a successful reader.

This Summer, Amazing Kidz Therapy is offering CAMPrehension reading comprehension groups for lower and upper elementary-aged students. These groups will be run by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who can introduce various reading comprehension strategies and provide support to facilitate your child’s use of these strategies. For more information call 813-298-9298.

Brittany Haller, MS, CCC-SLP

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Social Communication

Receptive and expressive language skills are very important aspects of communication. These skills are necessary for understanding what others are trying to tell us, as well as clearly expressing our own thoughts, wants, and needs. However, there is another vital component of language that is just as important for effective communication that is not quite as well known or widely discussed. This component is known as pragmatic language. 

So, what exactly is pragmatic language? The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association defines pragmatic language as “the system that combines the above language components [receptive and expressive language] in functional and socially appropriate communication.” This basically translates to how we use all aspects of language to socialize with those around us…the social communication piece.

Pragmatic language skills are important for people of all ages and affect every social scenario we encounter from making new friends on the playground to excelling in a job interview. For example, if you are unfamiliar with social norms you may not know that sometimes you have to talk about your friends’ interests and not just your love of airplanes at lunch, or you may not show interest in what a potential future employer is saying by making appropriate eye contact and asking follow-up questions.

A social/pragmatic language disorder often coexists with other diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, various learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and more. Pragmatic language skills can be targeted and developed through skilled Speech-Language therapy services with a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. To better understand pragmatic language disorders and to see information regarding signs/symptoms, causes, and assessment/treatment, visit

Brittany Haller, MS, CCC-SLP