All children acquire skills at a slightly different rate. Although we don’t realise it, children are learning early pre-literacy skills from very early in life. Children learn language and pre-literacy skills simultaneously. However children with phonological awareness difficulties will usually start falling behind on these developmental milestones.
Firstly, we know all children develop at slightly different rates. As a result, it can be difficult to decide when it is time to seek help. Current research recognises the significant risk to literacy development caused by speech sound disorders and language disorder[8].
The first thing to remember is that researchers have identified that phonological awareness therapy is more effective (i.e – makes more change) when taught before school entry, or during Kindergarten, rather than in the later primary years[9]. This means early identification is essential.
Given that, if you are concerned, seek help early.
We begin assessment on phonological awareness and from the age of four years old. Although it is never too early to start working on these important pre-literacy skills.