Understanding the Simple View of Reading: A Parent’s Guide

For many parents and educators, the term “Simple View of Reading” might feel anything but simple. This theoretical model, proposed by Wesley Hoover and Philip Gough in 1986, breaks down the complex process of learning to read into two essential components: decoding (word recognition) and language comprehension. Both are necessary for skilled reading, and if one component is weak, the ability to read and understand text is compromised.

So, what exactly do these terms mean, and how can understanding them help you support a struggling reader?

The Two Components of the Simple View of Reading

1. Decoding (Word Recognition)
   This involves the ability to read printed words. A child must learn how to break words down into their individual sounds (phonemes) and blend them together. This skill is critical because without decoding, words on a page are nothing more than meaningless symbols.
2. Language Comprehension (Listening Comprehension)
   This is the ability to understand spoken language. Even if a child can decode words accurately, they won’t truly grasp the meaning of the text without good listening comprehension. This includes vocabulary knowledge, background information, and understanding the structure of sentences and texts.

Both of these components must function well—individually and together—for reading success. Difficulties in either decoding or language comprehension can lead to serious reading challenges.

Common Reading Challenges: Dyslexia and Specific Language Impairment

Children with difficulties in decoding are often diagnosed with dyslexia, a term most parents are familiar with. Dyslexia affects approximately 15% to 20% of the population and makes it hard for individuals to recognize and process words.

On the other hand, Specific Language Impairment (SLI) (sometimes called Listening Comprehension Disorder) is less well-known, yet just as impactful. Affecting about 5% to 7% of students, SLI refers to deficits in language comprehension. This means that while a child may be able to decode words perfectly, they may struggle to understand what they’ve read due to weaker oral language skills.

Interestingly, both dyslexia and SLI tend to run in families, with genetic research indicating that up to 40% of affected children have a parent or sibling with similar difficulties.

How the Simple View of Reading Helps Guide Treatment

The Simple View of Reading has revolutionized how reading difficulties are diagnosed and treated. Before this model was widely understood, reading interventions often took a one-size-fits-all approach, focusing heavily on rote memorization and word recognition, regardless of whether the child’s underlying problem was decoding or language comprehension.

Today, evidence-based approaches such as Structured Literacy, including methods like Orton-Gillingham, take into account both decoding and comprehension. These methods provide individualized, targeted instruction tailored to the student’s specific deficits, whether in word recognition or language comprehension.

The key insight of the Simple View is this: reading interventions must be personalized to address the unique challenges a student faces. A child with dyslexia will benefit most from explicit phonics instruction to improve decoding, while a child with SLI may need support building vocabulary and understanding sentence structures. For those with mixed difficulties, interventions must be even more nuanced.

Why Early Intervention is Critical

Research over the past 30 years has overwhelmingly supported the effectiveness of early, individualized interventions based on the Simple View of Reading. As noted in the Lexercise Clinician’s Manual, “Recent research suggests that the underlying deficits in dyslexia may vary among individuals, highlighting the need for treatment that focuses on individual patterns rather than generic programs.”

The sooner these reading challenges are identified and addressed, the more successful interventions tend to be. Early intervention can significantly reduce the frustration children experience and help prevent future academic struggles.

If you notice your student is struggling with reading and spelling but you aren’t sure where the trouble lies, have a look at the free Lexercise online learning disability tests. They are designed to help you sort out how much of the trouble might be due to weak listening comprehension and how much due to weak decoding and spelling. This is a vital first step in securing the kind of help that will turn a word-challenged child into a reader.

If you have questions about dyslexia or specific language impairment, please contact us to discuss your child’s options.