Which factor is most likely to impact a child's ability to acquire literacy skills?

The most significant factor influencing a child's ability to acquire literacy skills is delayed language development. This delay can disrupt the foundational language skills necessary for reading and writing, such as vocabulary, syntax, and phonological awareness. When children experience delays in their language development, they may struggle with understanding the symbols of written language, decoding words, and comprehending text.

Language development is critical to literacy because it establishes the skills needed for successful reading, including the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language, build a rich vocabulary, and understand grammatical structures. Therefore, a delay in language development can have profound effects on a child's future literacy capabilities, making it a pivotal factor in their ability to learn to read and write effectively.

While the other factors mentioned can also affect literacy acquisition, their impact may not be as direct or severe. For instance, speech sound distortions may make verbal communication more challenging but do not always impede the grasp of literacy skills if the child has adequate language development. Unfamiliarity with an English dialect might present some challenges, but it is often addressable with instruction and exposure. Familial history of reading difficulty can indeed influence a child's literacy development, but it operates more as a risk factor than a direct causal factor like delayed language