Re: Fast Forward vs. Earobics

[Guest guest]

We don't have experience with either of these programs (yet) but I did ask

our SLP at Kennedy Krieger, she said that my 4.5 year old wasn't ready for

the Fast Foreword yet and recommended the Earobics for children his age.

-BJ

[Guest guest]

As promised, here's the response from the wonderful CHERAB advisor Dr. a

Tallal http://www.cmbn.rutgers.edu/cmbn/faculty/tallal.html :

" Dear ,

Thanks for passing this email on to me. Below is my response.

Please feel free to print it on your site or in newsletters or pass

it along to anyone who would find it useful.

Fast ForWord is now a whole series of programs designed to work on

the many foundational skills that both cognitive and neuroscience

research has shown to be essential for both oral and written language

development. All of our programs are unique as they adapt trial- by -

trial to each individual's needs, providing highly individualized

training. Scientific Learning now has one or more programs that are

appropriate for preschoolers through adults.

The Fast ForWord family of training programs begins with a program

called Fast ForWord-Basics, which is appropriate for typically

developing preschool age children, as well as for children struggling

with speech, language learning and/or reading readiness skills. Fast

ForWord-Basics can be purchased directly by parents and provided

without the need of a certified professional on a home computer.

Fast ForWord-Basics is also used by professionals to help preschool

age children as well as older children with severe language learning

impairments to learn the basic skills needed to be able to be

successful with the higher- level Fast ForWord training programs.

Fast ForWord-Basics is even more effective when used in combination

with the Scientific Learning Bookshelf. This is a series of story

books that has been specially designed to help children hear the most

confusing sounds within English, in the context of fun to listen to

children's stories. The Bookshelf comes in a parent's version as well

as a professional version. Only the professional version presents

the stories with our patented " acoustically modified speech " .

Fast ForWord training programs use " acoustically modified speech " .

This is speech that has been computer modified to exaggerate and

enhance the brief, critical acoustic events that differentiates one

speech sound from another . Over 30 years of research have shown

that many children struggling with speech, language and reading

skills have great difficulty distinguishing the brief acoustic

events within speech. Fast ForWord programs are the only programs

designed to explicitly address this difficult aspect of speech, while

at the same time " cross-training " the many other foundational skills

necessary for proficient speech, language and reading acquisition.

That is why the Fast ForWord training programs have often been

referred to as " glasses for the ears " . The goal of Fast ForWord

training is to individually adapt the training for each participant.

In this way each individual will be able to rely less and less on

this acoustically modified speech as training progresses. The goal

is to end up with the ability to complete increasing more difficult

exercises with normal speech.

Fast ForWord-Language is the program most people refer to when they

talk about Fast ForWord training, as it was our original training

program. This program has been used successfully now with nearly

150,000 children and has been shown to be extremely effective in

improving various components of speech and language skills, which are

fundamental building blocks for reading. Fast ForWord- Language is

appropriate for children 5 years and older. There is a special

version of Fast ForWord- Language developed for older children and

adults, which is called Fast ForWord- Middle and High School.

Once individuals have completed Fast ForWord- Language, they can

progress on to the next level program called Fast ForWord- Language

to Reading. This program has been explicitly designed to train the

fundamental skills needed to learn to connect oral sounds with

written symbols, in increasingly complex contexts, beginning with

single sound/letter correspondence and culminating with comprehending

connected stories.

The newest Fast ForWord training program is called Fast ForWord-

Reading. This program has been designed by reading experts who have

focused on the many essential aspects of reading that are included on

many of the state-wide reading achievement tests.

In addition to this now broad series of training programs,

Scientific Learning also offers a computerized individual reading

assessment program called Reading Edge. Using this simple to

administer assessment, which seems like a computer game to the child,

a parent or professional can rapidly assess an individuals current

reading skills. The program gives immediate feedback as to what

level an individual is at in terms of their readiness for reading.

Further information about all of these programs as well as the

research behind them can be found on the Scientific Learning Corp

website www.scientificlearning.com. You can also find a list of

professional Fast ForWord providers on this site, as well as

information as to how to have your child's school acquire the Fast

ForWord training programs "

(end note from Dr a Tallal)

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