Lindamood-Bell LiPS Program for Phoneme Sequencing

LiPS
Lindamood-Bell Phoneme Sequencing 

The LiPS (Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing®) program is a multisensory, articulation-based intervention designed to build phonemic awareness and decoding skills by guiding learners to feel and sequence sounds. According to a What Works Clearinghouse review, LiPS showed potentially positive effects for alphabetics and comprehension in beginning readers. WWC LiPS Intervention Report.

A review of LiPS research highlights improvements in phonological awareness, sound–letter correspondence, and decoding in struggling readers. For example, a 2008 study of first graders at risk for reading failure reported measurable gains in both phonemic awareness and letter/sound correspondence after LiPS instruction. Exploring the potential of LiPS instruction for beginning readers.

This research-based approach that helps students develop strong phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, feel, and identify individual speech sounds. By using a unique multi-sensory method that combines oral-motor movements with auditory and visual cues, LiPS guides learners to understand how sounds are formed and connected to letters. This foundation is essential for accurate reading, spelling, and speech. The program is especially effective for individuals with dyslexia, reading difficulties, or language processing challenges, offering a clear path toward literacy and improved confidence in communication. Wellspring Learning verses traditional tutoring.
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​A phoneme is an abstract unit of the phonetic system that corresponds to a set of similar speech sounds, like the "p" in pool and the "p" in pin. Both of these sounds are perceived the same, but they require different mouth shapes to make them. Phonemic awareness is a more specific term than phonological awareness, and focuses on smaller units of sound. Gaining awareness that words are made of a sequence of individual sounds develops strong decoding and encoding skills. Students who cannot judge the sequence of sound units within spoken words cannot grasp fundamental reading and spelling skills. When reading, speaking or spelling, they often add, omit or reverse sounds in words. Research indicates that strong phonological and phonemic awareness is the foundation for reading and spelling success.

The Lindamood-Bell program teaches students to feel the actions of their lips, tongues and vocal chords, and to notice and label them. Using this new ability to "feel sounds," students learn to count, identify, and order sounds within words. They then use this "motor kinesthetic feedback" to read and spell. It is a critically acclaimed program that develops the sensory-cognitive processes that underlie reading and spelling. Lindamood-Bell is highly recommended by educators and clinicians worldwide. It is recommended for children needing to gain several grade levels in decoding/encoding ability or to make further gains in speech-language after hitting a plateau under traditional speech therapy.

Key Benefits of the Lindamood-Bell LiPS Program

 Children become aware that words are made up of a sequence of individual sounds. This develops strong encoding and decoding skills. Strong phonemic and phonological awareness is the foundation for reading and spelling success. Children can gain several levels in coding/decoding ability and related spelling and reading skills through the application of this program

Many children and adults have difficulty judging sounds within words. Although they see letters correctly, they cannot detect and correct their errors in reading and spelling. This causes:

• Decoding Errors such as "steam" for stream, "imagination" for immigration, "claps" for clasps, etc.
• Spelling Errors such as "gril" for girl, "cret" for correct, "eqeutment" for equipment, etc.
• Pronunciation Errors such as "death" for deaf, "flusterated" for frustrated, etc.

The Lindamood-Bell Phonemic LiPS Program successfully stimulates phonemic awareness.
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Individuals become aware of the mouth actions, which produce speech sounds. This awareness becomes the means of verifying sounds within words and enables individuals to become self-correcting in reading and spelling, and speech.

It is common for individuals to gain several grade levels in decoding ability in four weeks to six weeks of intensive instruction, or to make further gains in speech-language after hitting a plateau under traditional speech therapy.

Sources / ReferencesThe following reports and studies provide additional insight into the research and evaluation of the LiPS program:

• What Works Clearinghouse – LiPS Intervention Report — A systematic review by the U.S. Department of Education assessing effectiveness in beginning readers. Institute of Education Sciences+1
  
• Exploring the Potential of LiPS Instruction for Beginning Readers (McIntyre, Protz, McQuarrie, 2008) — Study of first graders at risk showing gains in phonemic awareness and sound–letter correspondence. Lindamood-Bell
  
• Current Efficacy Research for the LiPS Program (Pro-Ed Review) — Overview and summary of multiple studies on LiPS outcomes. ProEd Inc.
  
• Leaders Project – LiPS Overview — Description of LiPS methods and populations served.
  
  

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Note:   Wellspring Learning, LLC is not Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes®nor is it affiliated with, certified, endorsed, licensed, monitored or sponsored by Lindamood-Bell®, Nanci Bell, Phyllis Lindamood or Pat Lindamood. Lindamood-Bell® - an international organization creating and implementing unique instructional methods and programs for quality intervention to advance language and literacy skills - in no way endorses or monitors the services provided by Wellspring Learning, LLC. Wellspring Learning LLC, therapists are trained in using LiPS® and Visualizing and Verbalizing® for our students.