Why Miss Emma, The Neurodivergent Reading Whisperer®, Teaches Parents and Early Years Educators to Use Speech Sound Mapping from Birth
 

At Speech Sound Mapping Ltd, we believe in starting early. Miss Emma, The Neurodivergent Reading Whisperer®, guides parents and carers in using Speech Sound Mapping from birth because of how crucial the first months of life are for brain development. Babies' brains, especially under 12 months, are most attuned to the sounds of spoken language. Remarkably, by the time a child is six months old, we can start predicting which children might be at risk for dyslexia if specific work isn’t done in the early years.
 

Phonemic Awareness: The Foundation of Reading, Spelling, and Non-Voiced Communication

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The core of Speech Sound Mapping revolves around phonemic awareness—the ability to isolate, segment, and blend the smallest sounds of language, known as phonemes. This crucial skill can be developed without the need for letters. When children are babies and toddlers, they grasp concepts that align with their natural schema. For instance, a baby understands that a dog says “woof,” and without being able to read, they can point to a picture of a dog when you say “woof.”

This same principle applies to phonemic awareness. By associating specific sounds with visual prompts, such as pointing to a "phoneme" when hearing a particular speech sound, children begin to understand the structure of language. For example, when a child can match the speech sounds used when we say the word 'pat' ie “p,” “æ,” and “t” to an image of someone patting a dolphin, they are starting to encode (spell) and decode (read) words—without ever seeing letters.

These early activities also lay the groundwork for speech therapy by helping with phoneme articulation. And for children who are non-speaking or pre-verbal, they can use MySpeekie, a one-screen AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device, to communicate by building words with phonemic awareness. Each 'Phonemie' creates a visible representation for a speech sound. 

Phonemic Awareness and Dyslexia Risk

Dyslexia often stems from poor phonemic awareness, and this deficit can be detected in toddlers—even if they aren’t yet speaking. By identifying children who struggle with these early phonemic activities, we can intervene before they even start learning letters and graphemes. Early identification and intervention significantly reduce the risk of reading and spelling difficulties later on.

With strong phonemic awareness, children are well-prepared to learn phonics, which is essential for developing reading comprehension. On the other hand, poor phonemic awareness can make spelling exceedingly difficult, even if the child eventually learns to read.

Why Speech Sound Mapping Works for Autistic Children

Speech Sound Mapping is an excellent fit for autistic minds, which often thrive on patterns and problem-solving. Our system makes English—an opaque orthography—more transparent. Unlike synthetic phonics, where children are taught individual graphemes and have to deduce which sound they might represent in different words, Speech Sound Mapping provides all the necessary information upfront. This allows children to explore any word, not just the ones they’ve been specifically taught based on a certain set of graphemes.

Autistic children tend to connect with this approach immediately because it makes sense to them. They don’t have to memorise abstract concepts like “silent letters” or “long vowels,” and they are free to engage with words that interest them personally, rather than those predetermined by a phonics programme. This approach also removes the need to follow a set stage of learning before accessing new words, making it especially effective for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
 

In Summary, We Help Build the Foundation for Lifelong Learning EVERY Child Deserves! 

By focusing on phonemic awareness from birth, Speech Sound Mapping Ltd sets the foundation for children to prevent reading and spelling difficulties before they even encounter letters. With tools like MySpeekie, children can also communicate in innovative ways. The method engages all children, including neurodivergent learners, in a way that makes learning fun, logical, and rewarding.

Miss Emma’s mission is to give every child the chance to learn in a way that works for them, right from the start.

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