Fast ForWord was developed by the Scientific Corporation, Berkeley, California. This technology-based program for five to twelve year olds has been utilized with thousands of children with encouraging results in the area of auditory and language processing skills. (According to Scientific Learning's web site, as of October, 2000, the company's programs have been used by tens of thousands of students and adults). In essence, Fast ForWord integrates increased phonological awareness with other language skills, including syntax, morphology and grammar. The program uses acoustically modified speech via computer games to train children how to understand and process spoken language more effectively.

How do you know if a child may benefit from Fast ForWord? According to Scientific Learning Corp., the typical Fast ForWord candidate is likely to demonstrate some of the following behaviors:

At Home/At Play:
- Misunderstands what is said
- Denies hearing the beginning or middle of long verbal information
- Requests that information be repeated
- Gives slow or delayed responses
- Uses only a few descriptive words when speaking
- Is reluctant to engage in conversations
- Has difficulty reconstructing a story in its appropriate order

In School:
- Has difficulty remembering/following oral instructions
- Doesn't remember the question when called upon in class
- Appears to daydream in class
- Has difficulty with phonics
- Has difficulty in reading or spelling
- Has weaknesses in memory

There is some confusion about how Fast ForWord addresses a child's reading. Fast ForWord is not a reading intervention program, but a program that addresses aspects of language processing. As there is a link between language and reading, completing the series of training exercises a child may see gains in his or her reading, but Fast ForWord is not a remedial reading program itself. However, in the research completed to date Fast ForWord students with language problems on the average can experience gains of one and a half years on select language tasks in four to eight weeks.

We are a certified Fast ForWord Provider. Our summer Fast ForWord programs typically consists of a six to eight week/2 hour a day program, Monday-Friday. There will be a number of 2-hour groups during the day, with a maximum of four children per group.

We respect that the Fast ForWord program requires a significant commitment of time, energy and resources from the family and child. It is therefore very important to us that we enroll children in the program whose primary issues are auditory and language processing, and who are ready for the intensity of the program. These are the children who are likely to receive the program's maximum benefit.

All applicants are given a screening battery to determine if the Fast ForWord program is the appropriate intervention for the child at this time. By matching the intervention to the child in this manner, we can utilize, the family's resources in the best way possible.

Scientific Learning has recently introduced a sequel to the first Fast ForWord program in addition to a program aimed at adolescences.

Interested parties are invited to contact Adrian Whitchelo-Scott for program availability. We also urge you to visit web site for the latest news on the program. Families seeking answers can find answers at Scientific Learning: Families