Speech Therapy for High School Reading Comprehension

Challenges in High School

High school students often face a jump in the complexity of reading materials. Texts become denser, with abstract ideas, advanced vocabulary, and longer passages that require strong attention skills. For example, a student may do well with a short story but struggle when reading a Shakespeare play or analyzing a scientific article. Remembering key information from multiple chapters can also be difficult, especially when preparing for unit tests. Another challenge is summarizing content—teens may retell every detail instead of focusing on the main idea. Academic vocabulary can also be a barrier; words like “analyze,” “synthesize,” or “evaluate” may appear across subjects, but students may not fully grasp their meanings, making comprehension and test performance harder.

Therapy Strategies

Active reading techniques

Teens are taught to engage with the text rather than passively reading. Highlighting important sentences, jotting down notes in the margins, and predicting what might happen next can make complex texts more manageable. For example, before reading a history passage, students may be encouraged to scan headings and create questions they’ll try to answer while reading.

Summarizing

Breaking down a chapter or article into the main idea and two or three key details helps students avoid information overload. A speech therapist might practice with short news articles at first, then move on to longer assignments like English or social studies readings.

Vocabulary building

Therapy often focuses on both subject-specific words (like “photosynthesis” in science) and academic terms (like “compare,” “contrast,” or “justify”) that appear in multiple classes. Activities may include word mapping, creating personal definitions, and practicing new words in sentences to reinforce understanding.

Writing connections

Reading comprehension is closely linked to writing. Students may practice turning their notes into short summaries, reflections, or essay outlines. For example, after reading a chapter from a novel, they might write three sentences: one about the main idea, one about a supporting event, and one about their opinion. This reinforces both comprehension and writing skills needed for schoolwork.

Benefits of Speech Therapy

When students strengthen reading comprehension, the impact shows across all subjects. Improved comprehension often leads to better grades, more confidence in class discussions, and less stress when facing large reading assignments. Strong comprehension also prepares teens for the demands of high school exams, standardized tests, and presentations. Beyond academics, these skills support lifelong literacy—helping students engage critically with media, university or college texts, and workplace materials.

Getting Started with SpeechLab Toronto

SpeechLab Toronto offers language and literacy therapy designed specifically for teens. Therapy sessions are tailored to each student’s learning style and academic needs, which may include breaking down textbooks, practicing note-taking strategies, or building vocabulary for advanced courses. By focusing on both skills and confidence, speech therapy helps students move from struggling with comprehension to actively engaging with their studies. With this support, teens gain the tools to succeed academically and carry strong literacy skills into adulthood. Start today!