What are phonological problems likely to affect?

Phonological problems are primarily linked to difficulties in processing and manipulating the sounds of language, which is central to the understanding of language structure. When children struggle with phonological awareness, they have a hard time recognizing and working with the sounds that make up words. This difficulty directly impacts their ability to associate letters with respective sounds, a key component of reading and writing skills known as letter-sound correspondence.

In particular, challenges in phonological processing can lead to issues with decoding written words, as understanding the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds is crucial for reading fluency. Since letter-sound correspondence is foundational for reading success, struggling with phonological problems often results in significant challenges in learning to read effectively.

While phonological problems could indirectly influence areas like reading comprehension and even memory retention, the most direct and immediate impact is on letter-sound correspondence, making this option the best answer to the question.