P.A.T. stands for Phonological Auditory Training. This training develops phonological processing skills, which involve language awareness and proficiency at the level of individual speech sounds and syllables. SpellRead ® develops these skills by working first with the sounds that are easiest to hear and manipulate and progressing to the more difficult sounds and sound combinations. It combines this sound-level work with language-based reading and writing, resulting in a comprehensive approach to building reading and spelling skills.
Why are phonological skills so important?
Phonological skills are now believed to be the greatest predictor of an individual’s ability to read and spell. Those who do not process speech sounds (phonemes) adequately, will have great difficulty with an alphabetic language like English. Awareness of phonemes enables mental mapping of the sound-letter correspondences. It is the basis for being able to use an alphabetic writing system. Many people do not naturally develop a solid base of phonological skills, but the necessary skills can be acquired through systematic training.
How is P.A.T. different from other programs?
P.A.T. is phonological auditory training that is specific, organized and detailed. It combines sound-level work with language-based reading and writing. It develops mastery of clearly-defined skills. It is not rule-based, but instead trains an individual to internalize concepts so that auditory processing functions become automatic. This training to automaticity is essential for the effortless reading of words, and the retention and comprehension of what has been read. It also allows the individual to more fully express his/her ideas in writing when not constrained by limited spelling ability.
Will P.A.T. help someone who has been identified as dyslexic?
Yes. Dyslexia (or specific reading disability) is the most common of the learning disabilities, affecting 80 percent of all those identified as learning disabled. Most individuals diagnosed as dyslexic have phonological processing difficulties. SpellRead can address this area of need.
Is P.A.T. effective for adults as well as children?
Yes. P.A.T. is an effective reading skills development program for individuals with limited phonological processing skills, regardless of age. Children usually progress through the program at a faster rate, but data from thousands of adults show that their reading and writing skills can also be significantly improved. Even adults in post-secondary programs have found that P.A.T. has made them much more efficient readers, better able to comprehend and retain what they read.
Will P.A.T. improve reading comprehension?
Yes. High level phonological skills enable you to effortlessly process speech sounds and to develop automatic decoding skills for reading. If an individual has not mastered these skills, then he/she may develop compensating techniques. These techniques, however, tend to be highly complex and consume significant amounts of intellectual capacity (“brain power”). When too much energy is needed to simply read the words, there is little left to retain and comprehend what has been read. Phonological Auditory Training can develop the decoding processes to the automatic level and free up this energy for better retention and comprehension.
Will P.A.T. improve spelling skills?
Yes. Spelling of an alphabetic language like English is based on sound-letter correspondences. Not all English words are phonetically based, but the majority are. P.A.T. improves spelling ability by teaching the regular correspondences. Development of the irregular spellings comes from extensive exposure to print. Once the individual becomes a more proficient reader through the Spell Read program, he/she generally also becomes a much more prolific reader, so that this extensive exposure to print is realized. Spelling will continue to improve after completion of the program.
Why is an in-depth assessment necessary before beginning the SpellRead program?
The initial assessment provides a detailed picture of auditory, phonological, reading, and spelling skills. It is essential to have this information in order to determine approximately how long the individual will take to complete the program, and the level of reading material that will be used initially.
How long will it take to complete the program?
The time required to complete the program varies. Most children will go through the program in approximately 100 hours. For adults, the time is dependent on many factors including phonological and reading skill levels on entry, but they generally require significantly more time than children.
How much homework is involved with the program?
For both children and adults, it is recommended that 20-30 minutes be spent on homework daily, focusing on a combination of sound work, reading and writing. The amount of work done outside the class can contribute significantly to the speed at which progress is made.
Can P.A.T. help those learning English as a second language?
Yes. Learning a second language requires a solid foundation of phonological skills. This is necessary for learning to speak, read and write proficiently. P.A.T. is an excellent addition to an ESL program, to help develop these foundational skills.
