The learning success blog

Many people find it hard to hear what someone else is saying when there is a lot of background noise. But if you have Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), background noise can be even more of a problem.

LearnFast asked Devon Barnes, speech pathologist and Auditory Processing Disorder specialist how explain how background noise impacts people with this difficulty.

Key points from the interview included:

• Students with APD are disadvantaged in noisy classrooms
• Background noise interferes with learning
• Reducing noise in classrooms will benefit all students

Watch the video interview: 

Do you have a child who has trouble paying attention?  Has anyone suggested they might have Attention Deficit Disorder (commonly referred to as ADD or ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

You won’t know for sure unless your child has an assessment by a trained professional.

What you should know, however, is that ADD/ADHD is often mistaken for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).  

How does a parent or teacher decide where to get help for dyslexic children? How do you sort effective treatments from those that make confident claims to cure dyslexia?

LearnFast asked Devon Barnes, speech pathologist and dyslexia specialist for her advice.

Key points from the interview included:

• Remedial teachers, educational psychologists, and speech pathologists may be able to help.
• Neuroscience programs, such as Fast ForWord, can treat underlying processing deficiencies in the child’s brain.
• Best to combine neuroscience programs with good one to one therapy and instruction.

“Dyslexia” is a term used widely, and often not very accurately, to describe a range of reading difficulties. Because parents often struggle to know whether their child’s difficulties with learning to read are related to dyslexia, LearnFast recorded a video interview with speech language pathologist and dyslexia specialist, Devon Barnes and asked her to explain dyslexia.

Scientific Learning Corporation, developers of the Fast ForWord programs has been awarded another patent. This takes the total patents to more than 80 for their neuroscience based programs which have been used by over 2 million students around the world.

This latest patent adds further recognition to the 18-year history of invention and innovation by the scientists at Scientific Learning Corporation.

Does a child need to keep doing Fast ForWord exercises to continue to get the benefit of the brain training?

No, children don’t have to keep doing the exercises to maintain their improvements in learning reading and self confidence. The benefits of Fast ForWord are long lasting after the exercises are completed.

Research, and reports, from parents and teachers of children who have completed the Fast ForWord program, confirm that the gains made from the exercises are permanent.

Children typically complete the Fast ForWord programs appropriate for their age and development in 3 – 5 months. During this time they work on exercises that strengthen the cognitive and language skills that are essential for learning and reading.

Interview with Dr Martha Burns, international dyslexia expert

As anyone with a ‘dyslexic’ child, student or family member will probably know, “dyslexia” is a term used widely, and often not very accurately, to describe a range of reading difficulties. To get some clarity about dyslexia, what exactly Dyslexia is, and the issues for parents and teachers of dyslexic children, LearnFast recorded a video interview with Dr Martha Burns, international dyslexia expert.

Key points from the interview included:

Today's classroom is more academically diverse than over. And even though schools offer a variety of programs and resources some learners continue to perform below grade level. So how can teachers accelerate learning for every student? It all starts with the brain.

The 60 Minutes program on Channel 9 (Australia) on Sunday June 1, 2014 included a segment about the Arrowsmith School, and featured some children from the 35 Australian families currently at the school in Canada. 

The Arrowsmith program was developed by Barbara Arrowsmith- Young and uses the principles of brain plasticity to improve the learning abilities of children with a range of learning disabilities including dyslexia.

Families who have gone to the Arrowsmith School report very significant improvements in their children. If your child has a severe learning problem, they may be able to be helped by the Arrowsmith program.

Right now it is necessary for them to go to Canada because there are very few places in Australia and New Zealand where the program is available. Of course this involves considerable cost/financial sacrifice and potential disruption to their families as one parent usually accompanies the child to Canada.

An alternative for families contemplating relocating to Canada for the duration of their child’s attendance at the Arrowsmith School is to consider Fast ForWord, a brain plasticity program that improves learning capacity for all students, including those with severe learning difficulties.

Parents of children with dyslexia can be overwhelmed by conflicting advice about how best to help their children.

Often well meaning friends and others professing to have a “cure” for dyslexia can confuse parents anxious about their child’s inability to read as well as other children of the same age.

Fortunately there is a lot of well conducted science now available to inform us about how to improve the learning outcomes for those with dyslexia. The scientific research is clearly indicating that there is a strong link between many children’s poor auditory processing skills and their struggles with reading, including dyslexia.