Phonological Awareness: Skills, Activities, and the Link to Speech
Phonological awareness is noticing and playing with the sounds in words — rhymes, syllables, first sounds, and single phonemes. It underpins reading, and children with speech sound disorders are at higher risk of weak skills. In one study, integrated awareness therapy improved awareness, reading, and speech.
What phonological awareness is
Phonological awareness is awareness of the sound structure of spoken language. The National Reading Panel defined its finest level, phonemic awareness, as the knowledge that spoken words can be broken apart into smaller segments of sound known as phonemes, and noted that children who are read to — especially rhyming material — often develop its basis at home. The panel’s analysis found that effective reading instruction incorporates explicit instruction in phonemic awareness.3
A federal practice guide for kindergarten through 3rd grade makes it one of four recommendations: develop awareness of the segments of sounds in speech and how they link to letters.4
The skills, with activities
| Skill | What the child does | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Rhyme | Hears and makes words that rhyme | “What rhymes with cat?” — hat, bat, mat |
| Phoneme identity | Notices which sound a word starts with | “Find everything that starts with /s/” |
| Phoneme segmentation | Breaks a word into its sounds | “Sun” → /s/ /ʌ/ /n/, one tap per sound |
| Phoneme blending | Puts sounds together into a word | /ʃ/ /ɪ/ /p/ → “ship” |
| Phoneme manipulation | Changes or removes a sound | “Say ‘star’ without the /s/” → “tar” |
| Linking speech to print | Connects sounds to letters | Matching the /ʃ/ sound to the letters SH |
Phonological awareness skills targeted in integrated intervention (skills from ASHA; activities are examples).1
Free Printable Word Lists
Print practice words by sound and position — no account needed.
The link with speech sound disorders
ASHA explains that for children without speech sound disorders, speech production and phonological awareness develop in a mutually supportive way: through sound play, children learn to segment words into sounds and map sounds onto letters. Difficulties listening to, discriminating, or remembering speech sounds can lead to both speech production and literacy difficulties, and even mild speech sound disorders can raise the risk of weak phonological awareness and spelling.1
The type of speech error matters. A UK research team summarized evidence that children making disordered speech errors showed more difficulty on phonological awareness tasks than children with speech delay, and in their own cohort, disordered errors were linked to poorer word reading.5
Does phonological awareness therapy help?
A New Zealand study compared an integrated phonological awareness program, a traditional speech-language program focused on articulation and language, and minimal intervention over 4½ months for children with spoken language impairment and speech difficulties. The phonological awareness group made significantly more gains in phonological awareness and reading, reached levels similar to typically developing peers on phonological awareness, and also improved in speech articulation.2
ASHA includes integrated phonological awareness among treatment options for speech sound disorders, combining phoneme awareness tasks and letter–sound knowledge with speech production practice.1
About SpeechStep
SpeechStep practices speech sounds for ages 4–8; it does not teach reading. Sound games like rhyming and first-sound hunts are easy to add to any practice session.
Frequently asked questions
What is phonological awareness?＋
The ability to notice and manipulate the sound structure of spoken words — rhymes, syllables, and individual sounds. Phonemic awareness is its most detailed level: the knowledge, in the National Reading Panel’s words, that spoken words can be broken apart into smaller segments of sound called phonemes.
What are examples of phonological awareness skills?＋
ASHA lists rhyme, phoneme manipulation, phoneme identity, phoneme segmentation, phoneme blending, and linking speech to print among the skills targeted in integrated phonological awareness intervention.
How is phonological awareness related to speech sound disorders?＋
Closely. ASHA notes speech production and phonological awareness develop in a mutually supportive way, and a UK study summarized research showing children with disordered speech errors had more difficulty on phonological awareness tasks than children with speech delay.
Can phonological awareness therapy help speech?＋
In a study of New Zealand children with spoken language impairment and speech difficulties, an integrated phonological awareness program produced larger gains in phonological awareness and reading than traditional speech-language therapy or minimal intervention — and also improved speech articulation.
Put this into practice today
Try the free printable word lists, or start daily AI speech practice — every child takes one SpeechStep at a time.
References
5 sources from authoritative bodies. Last reviewed October 2026.
- 1.ASHASpeech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology — Practice Portal page.
- 2.Peer-reviewedGillon — The Efficacy of Phonological Awareness Intervention for Children With Spoken Language Impairment — Controlled intervention study (LSHSS), 2000.
- 3.NICHD (NIH)National Reading Panel — Federal panel report summary.
- 4.Institute of Education Sciences (What Works Clearinghouse)Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade — Practice guide.
- 5.Peer-reviewedHayiou-Thomas, Carroll, Leavett, Hulme & Snowling — When Does Speech Sound Disorder Matter for Literacy? — Longitudinal cohort study (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry), 2017.