Chapter three of the book focuses on learning issues and how the brain can, with “exercise” and concentration, make new neural connections that will restore lost functions or improve weak ones. It mentions some software called Fast ForWord, created by Dr. Michael Merzenich and colleagues, that is supposed to help dyslexic children not just “cope” but to actually improve their brain function in areas of auditory processing (often an underlying issue with dyslexia) and memory.
A Google search quickly took me to some info about Fast ForWord, including the Scientific Learning company that developed the product, which had links to companies offering the software and support services. I found and contacted one located in New York State, called Gemm Learning, that offers a “distance” service to people located in other areas. After some thought, and discussing it with Mustang (who was eager to try it out – she likes computer games and she wants to be able to read as easily as other kids), made arrangements to use their services. The software arrived last Friday and Mustang has been working on it daily since then. The recommended “protocol” is 50 minutes a day, five days a week, for up to six months. There is a sequence of products, initially focusing on auditory processing, then moving on to exercises in following instructions, distinguishing grammatical elements, putting words together, and even some math-related exercises to improve basic math skills.
I am hopeful that this will eventually prove beneficial to Mustang. The theory is that when children have auditory processing issues (i.e. have difficulty distinguishing certain sounds, or process sounds more slowly than ideal for comprehension, which relates to reading abilities), by training the brain to process sounds faster it will improve their capacity to translate the sounds into words. There are, of course, those who state that claims of the software’s effectiveness are largely unsubstantiated. But much of what the software’s developers say about auditory processing and dyslexia just jives with what I see in Mustang, that I decided it was worthwhile to try.
Whether it will be effective, or how effective it will be, remains of course to be seen. I'm enough of a skeptic not to expect miraculous results, but enough of a believer to think it could benefit her. At the very least it won't hurt, and since the vast majority of approaches to dyslexia just try to "manage" it through compensatory strategies and accommodations, if this has even the slightest effect in overcoming the problem it will be beneficial.
A Google search quickly took me to some info about Fast ForWord, including the Scientific Learning company that developed the product, which had links to companies offering the software and support services. I found and contacted one located in New York State, called Gemm Learning, that offers a “distance” service to people located in other areas. After some thought, and discussing it with Mustang (who was eager to try it out – she likes computer games and she wants to be able to read as easily as other kids), made arrangements to use their services. The software arrived last Friday and Mustang has been working on it daily since then. The recommended “protocol” is 50 minutes a day, five days a week, for up to six months. There is a sequence of products, initially focusing on auditory processing, then moving on to exercises in following instructions, distinguishing grammatical elements, putting words together, and even some math-related exercises to improve basic math skills.
I am hopeful that this will eventually prove beneficial to Mustang. The theory is that when children have auditory processing issues (i.e. have difficulty distinguishing certain sounds, or process sounds more slowly than ideal for comprehension, which relates to reading abilities), by training the brain to process sounds faster it will improve their capacity to translate the sounds into words. There are, of course, those who state that claims of the software’s effectiveness are largely unsubstantiated. But much of what the software’s developers say about auditory processing and dyslexia just jives with what I see in Mustang, that I decided it was worthwhile to try.
Whether it will be effective, or how effective it will be, remains of course to be seen. I'm enough of a skeptic not to expect miraculous results, but enough of a believer to think it could benefit her. At the very least it won't hurt, and since the vast majority of approaches to dyslexia just try to "manage" it through compensatory strategies and accommodations, if this has even the slightest effect in overcoming the problem it will be beneficial.
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