By Rebeca Schvartzman, SLP, reg. CASLPO – Talk & Bloom®

 

When a child has trouble pronouncing certain speech sounds, parents and teachers often ask: “Could this affect my child’s reading?”

The answer is: sometimes yes. But it depends on the type of speech difficulty. Understanding how the brain processes sounds and letters can help you support your child more effectively.

What Is Decoding?

Decoding in early reading is the foundational skill of:

• Recognizing letters: identifying letters, moving from individual sounds to the whole word
• Sound Association: connecting letters to their specific sounds (sound-letter correspondence)
• Blending sounds together to form words
• Word Pronunciation: Saying the complete word

Example:

• Word: C A T
• Identify sounds: /c/ – /a/ – /t/
• Blend sounds and say: “cat”
• Access the meaning of the word

In the initial stages of reading, children often vocalize the sounds associated with written letters. Hearing and producing these sounds repeatedly strengthen memory and supports blending individual sounds into words.

Children with speech sound difficulties may find it harder to recognize sounds, tell them apart, or connect them to letters, which can interfere with reading, writing, and academic performance.

What Are Speech Sound Disorders?

Speech sound disorders occur when a child has difficulty producing one or more speech sounds correctly.

When a child says a sound incorrectly, it can also be harder to recognize it, distinguish it from other sounds, or use it consistently. This can cause confusion in the letter–sound relationship, which is essential for early reading and spelling.

Example, the word “cape”:

Error	What the child says
/t/ instead of /k/	“tape”
/p/ is omitted at the end of the word	“kay”
/b/ instead of /p/	“kabe”
Vowel change	“kep”

 

What Happens in the Brain During Decoding?

When a child sees a letter, the brain goes through three fast steps:

1️⃣ Sees and recognizes the letter (visual recognition and processing)
2️⃣ Activates the correct sound (letter–sound correspondence)
3️⃣ Sends instructions to the articulators (such as the lips, tongue, teeth, palate, and jaw) to produce the sound

 

What Happens When There Is a Pronunciation Difficulty?

Speech sound disorders make it harder for a child to say or use sounds correctly. This can affect reading, especially when the child struggles to link letters with the correct sounds.

Speech sound disorders are divided into articulation disorders and phonological disorders.

Articulation Disorder

• Difficulty physically producing speech sounds
• May be due to anatomical factors (e.g., tongue-tie), movement limitations, or coordination difficulties
• The brain may send incorrect or disrupted signals to the articulators, which affects correct sound production

Key point: This is a production-based difficulty rather than a lack of understanding of the sound. The child may mentally recognize the correct sound and decode it accurately when hearing it, even if they are unable to produce the sound correctly.

 

Phonological Disorder

• Difficulty organizing and using speech sounds within words
• The brain has trouble differentiating, categorizing, or applying sounds correctly
• For example, saying “tea” instead of “key.” The sound /t/ replaces /k/, changing the meaning

Key point: The child may perceive the incorrect sound as correct, affecting decoding and spelling even when hearing the correct sound

 

Quick comparison:

Type of Error		Where It Happens	What’s the Problem		Effect on Mental Decoding		Example of errors
Articulatory – Incorrect production of the sound, syllables, words, and sentences		Articulators (lips, tongue, teeth, jaw, hard and soft palate)	Physically produce the sound The brain knows the sound, but the child cannot say it correctly		✅  Correct When they hear someone else say the sound correctly		Say “wabbit” for “rabbit”   Say “fun” for “sun”
Phonological – Incorrect use of the sound within the word -Changing sounds modifies the meaning of the word		Brain	Processing (interpretation) of the sound The brain believes that the incorrect sound is correct		❌  Incorrect Even when they hear someone else saying the correct sound		Say “pear” for “bear”   Say “ship” for “sheep”

 

 

Tips for Parents

• Consult a speech-language pathologist if pronunciation difficulties persist
• Watch for slow or error-prone reading
• Remember: mispronouncing a sound does not automatically mean your child cannot read
• Early intervention helps the brain reorganize sounds and supports reading development

 

Tips for Teachers

• Understand the difference between speech and reading: a child may read mentally correctly even if pronunciation is off
• Use visual or tactile supports: color-coded cards, symbols for tricky sounds
• Collaborate with families and therapists to adapt reading exercises
• Strengthen phonological awareness with rhymes, syllable games, and initial-sound activities—without requiring perfect pronunciation

 

How Speech Therapy Helps

• Improves speech clarity and intelligibility
• Aligns reading and pronunciation skills
• Boosts confidence and self-esteem
• Supports social communication
• Strengthens academic performance
• Guides parents and teachers with effective strategies

 

Early Support Can Make a Difference!

If you notice pronunciation difficulties or slow reading progress, do not wait. An early evaluation can prevent reading struggles and support your child’s learning journey.

 

Contact us today for a free consultation.