We visualize every day. From imagining the contents of our fridge while grocery shopping, to the entire story of a book we are reading. For children who have mild to severe language difficulties, encouraging and practicing visualization for language input helps them process the meaning of said input in a deeper way.
This is because an interfered connection to and interpretation of incoming language often makes it difficult to grasp the entirety of a concept. How can we help? – Imagery. For example, if the child has a series of mental images linked to a text they have heard or read at the ready, answering questions relating to that text becomes easier.
Accessing this imagery can become a strength of a child, who may be challenged when relying just on the words. From research in reading and language to thinking processes, visualization always comes through as a winning strategy for understanding.
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