Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

What is the primary focus of an SLP when addressing a client's difficulties with spelling and writing systems?

1. Phonological awareness

2. Motor skills

3. Orthography

4. Semantic understanding

The correct answer is: Orthography

The primary focus of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) addressing a client's difficulties with spelling and writing systems is orthography. Orthography refers to the conventional spelling system of a language, which includes rules about how letters and sounds correspond and how words are structured. An understanding of orthography is crucial as it directly impacts a client's ability to write and spell correctly. Working with clients on orthographic skills involves teaching them the spelling rules, recognizing patterns in word formation, and understanding the relationships between sounds and letters. This encompasses a range of linguistic components, such as syllable structure, word patterns, and the use of different graphemes. While phonological awareness, motor skills, and semantic understanding are all important components of language and literacy development, they serve different roles. Phonological awareness relates more to the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language, which is foundational for reading but does not directly address the specific spelling and writing system challenges. Motor skills may be relevant for writing legibly, but they are not directly tied to spelling complexities within orthography. Semantic understanding deals with the meanings of words and concepts rather than the spelling and structural aspects of written language. Therefore, focusing on orthography provides the targeted support that clients need to improve their