Reading comprehension for special needs

Reading comprehension for special needs is a modified way of reading to accommodate the specific needs of a child who may suffer from a language impairment. In conjunction with an audiologist, occupational therapist, and special education teachers, a team of caregivers can coordinate special reading comprehension assistance based on a child's particular special needs.

Background

Reading is the process of retrieving and comprehending some form of stored information or ideas. Reading to young children is a recommended way to instill language, expression, and to promote comprehension of text.

Language impairments

A language impairment is a learning disorder characterized by an impairment in the comprehension and use of oral and/or written language which significantly interferes with communication and academic achievement, while a speech impairment is an impairment in speech production which significantly interferes with the student's communication and learning (e.g., articulation, and/or phonological, disorder, apraxia, dysfluency/stuttering, dysarthria, voice and resonance. However, speech and language impairments can also occur independently.

Accommodations and modifications

In order to complement a child's learning experience, caregivers can modify their reading technique in ways that may promote learning. These are things that one should be aware of when facilitating reading comprehension for children with special needs:

• "finger following" - reading by......
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