Phonemic Awareness Assessments Identify A Weak Cognitive Skill Necessary For Learning

A phonemic awareness assessment can help youraffecting your child at the end of second grade may
child identify a weak cognitive skill which is necessarybe a difficulty spelling previously studied and
for learning. Weak cognitive skills are a large factor incommonly seen words, difficulty reading aloud, and
the majority of learning disabilities which affectdifficulty using phonics to sound out words.
people from all walks of life.By the age of five, phonemic awareness is typically
Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and analyzeestablished in around 80% of children. The other 20%
discreet sounds. It is the cognitive skill that allows uswill continue to show warning signs past the age of
to connect speech sounds to the letters in words.nine and into the teen years, and beyond. The
There are various stages that your children will gocommon signs to watch out for are a history of
through in their learning development, and you canreading and spelling struggles, a dislike of reading, not
notice if they lack phonemic awareness during eachwanting to read aloud, or having to spend extra time
of these stages.doing homework.
If you notice any of the risk factors which indicate aIf you see any of these symptoms in your child
lack of phonemic awareness in your child you areschedule a complete cognitive skills assessment. A
highly encouraged to schedule a complete phonemicphonemic awareness assessment will be included in
awareness assessment at a qualified learning trainingthis overall assessment at a quality learning training
center.center. This test will also indicate any other weak
Students as young as Pre-K to Kindergarten age cancognitive skills that may become, or already are a
lack phonemic awareness. Warning signs to watch forproblem for your child.
include a difficulty recognizing rhymes, troubleBy running this test you will help avoid future learning
remembering names of friends or classmates, and adisabilities, ensuring your child healthy learning for the
difficulty with the development of normal speech.rest of their life. The learning training center will map
At the end of first grade the warning signs to watchout a plan for strengthening this cognitive skill.
for include those mentioned above and if your childTo further emphasize the importance of strong
has difficulty with spelling common words, readingphonemic awareness skills the Institute of Health and
aloud, sounding out words, blending sounds, andChild Development discovered that 88% of reading
trouble applying the mechanics of sounds withindifficulties were a result of weak phonemic
words to reading and spelling.awareness. This was found during a ten-year study
At the end of second grade you will continue to seefrom 1985 to 1995. Make sure you get your child
warning signs that will indicate weak phonemictested if you notice any of the warning signs and
awareness skills. If you find that your child hasstruggles listed above. Their future depends on your
difficulty recalling simple facts and details it isaction.
important to get them tested. Other factors