Designing a structured linguistic play therapy program for reading disorder: Basics and Strategies

Background & Purpose: Linguistic play therapy is a structured intervention based on the linguistic core of reading that can be modified and implemented for students with reading problems and disorders. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical foundations and solutions and principles of linguistic game therapy design to empower teachers and counselors related to educational services and rehabilitation of children with reading problems or disorders. Results: Study of the theoretical foundations indicates that reading has a linguistic core and Decoding and comprehension are the two main components of reading, so play therapy for reading disorders should be focused on the linguistic core. Some research referred to the usefulness and effectiveness of interventions in the field of phonological awareness, semantics and syntax and comprehension. In the present article, the main and sub-components of the linguistic core are explained and in addition, examples of suggested play for each case are provided. Finally, principles and strategies for adaptation and redesign and implementation of linguistic play therapy interventions for reading disorders are presented. Conclusion: Basis and specialized logic of the design of linguistic play therapy interventions is the purposeful stimulating and challenging of the linguistic core of reading through play, and teachers and counselors with a proper understanding of the nature and core of linguistic disorders of reading disorders and to modify and implement the sample play presented in this article.