When parents think about reading difficulties, they often focus on whether their child can accurately read words on a page. While reading accuracy is important, successful reading involves much more than decoding words. To truly engage with a text, children need to understand what they are reading, make connections between ideas, and retain information.
At my clinic and around local schools, I regularly support children to understand what they have read. Reading comprehension is a complex skill that relies on several underlying abilities working together. By identifying and targeting these foundational skills, we can help children become more confident and capable readers.
Below are some of the key reading comprehension skills we commonly work on in therapy.
Reading Accuracy and Fluency
Reading comprehension begins with the ability to read accurately and fluently.
Reading accuracy refers to correctly identifying words, while fluency refers to reading smoothly, at an appropriate pace, and with expression. When a child is using significant effort to decode words, they often have fewer cognitive resources available to focus on understanding the meaning of the text.
In therapy, we may work on strategies that support reading accuracy and fluency, helping children become more efficient readers so they can devote greater attention to comprehension.
Inferencing
One of the most important reading comprehension skills is inferencing.
Inferencing involves using clues to work out information that is not directly stated. Strong readers constantly make inferences as they read, combining information from the text with their own knowledge and experiences.
During my sessions, I often begin teaching inferencing using pictures and visual scenes before progressing to written texts. For example, a child might look at an image and identify how a character is feeling based on their facial expression, body language, and surrounding context. As their skills develop, we introduce increasingly complex texts that require them to draw conclusions, predict outcomes, and understand implied meaning.
Identifying the Main Idea
Many children can recall individual details from a story but struggle to identify what the story is actually about.
Identifying the main idea requires children to recognise the most important information and distinguish it from supporting details. This skill is essential for understanding stories, following classroom instruction, and later summarising information from textbooks and other learning materials.
In therapy, we often support this skill through discussions and "WH" questions, such as:
- Who is the text about?
- What happened?
- Where did it happen?
- When did it happen?
- Why did it happen?
These questions encourage children to focus on the key elements of a text and develop a deeper understanding of its overall message.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is the ability to explain information using your own words.
This skill demonstrates genuine understanding because it requires a child to process information rather than simply repeat it. Children who can successfully paraphrase are often better able to retain information and communicate their understanding to others.
During therapy sessions, I may ask children to read or listen to a short passage and then explain what they have learned in their own words, or even use videos when we are first starting out. This helps strengthen both comprehension and expressive language skills.
Summarising
Summarising is a more advanced skill that builds on a child's ability to identify key information.
To create an effective summary, children must determine which details are most important and communicate those ideas concisely. This can be challenging for children who tend to focus on every detail equally.
During my sessions, a key focus is often to support children to identify important information, organise their thoughts, and develop strategies for creating clear and meaningful summaries. These skills become increasingly important as children progress through school and encounter longer, more complex texts.
Visualisation
Visualisation is a strategy that encourages children to create mental images while reading.
When children visualise, they actively engage with the text by imagining characters, settings, events, and actions. This helps improve both comprehension and memory, as the information becomes more meaningful and easier to recall.
In therapy, I may ask children to describe what they picture in their minds while reading or draw a scene based on a text. These activities encourage active reading and help strengthen understanding.
How Speech Pathology Can Help
Reading comprehension is not a single skill. It is the result of many foundational abilities working together, including reading accuracy and fluency, inferencing, identifying the main idea, paraphrasing, summarising, and visualisation.
If your child can read the words on a page but struggles to understand their meaning, speech pathology support may help build the foundation for stronger reading comprehension and greater confidence at school.
At Lindsay Fordham Speech Pathology, I tailor therapy to each child's individual strengths and challenges, helping them develop the skills they need to become successful readers.
Contact me today to learn more about how you can support your child!