Fast forward information

I can’t give you specific info except to say that it is not cheap either. Some people have found it helpful for assisting kids with auditory processing problems. I have not seen rave reviews here, which might mean something. You could do a little search here.

Some reading teachers and speech pathologists use it but I wouldn’t say it is the norm. You have to be a provider. There is a home version but again I haven’t heard just great reviews.

I am unsure what you mean by the sentence “he can decode but unable to put it into words”. Do you mean that he can decode words in practice but not while he is reading? Do you mean he has trouble with comprehension?
Please explain this as what he has trouble with may tell us more what might be helpful. If his trouble is comprehension you could perhaps tutor him yourself using Visualizing and Verbalizing by LMB or something called Idea Chain, which some parents here have liked (never have seen it).

I wouldn’t worry ultramuch whether he finds Wilson fun or not, however, it is my understanding that unless Wilson would be modified quite a lot it is not so appropriate for a 7 year old. There are now stories and so forth more for younger kids, but I’d still say they would be more 4th-5th grade or so and up. I understand Wilson is working on a younger kid version and they do have a program but it is more for early intervention of high risk kids.

Still it would help to know what the specific issue(s) are.

—des

I am also undecided about Fast Forward. I’m not doing it right now because I feel like my daughter is on overload. But, am considering it for the future.

Maybe the web site might help? It’s on www.scilearn.com.

FastForWord will help only if a child has certain types of auditory processing problems. It’s not at all clear from your post that your child has APD issues. Not all children who have difficulty with reading have auditory processing problems. Training is required to be a FFW provider. Also, FFW is not fun for the child. It is quite intensive and requires a lot of work.

Since your son likes computer work, what I would suggest instead is the Sound Reading CD from http://www.soundreading.com . It is about $60, and you would probably want the elementary version. I have had really good results with this CD, and the children enjoy it.

Are you saying that your son can decode individual words but cannot read text? If so, you need to get a developmental vision evaluation. Check out http://www.childrensvision.org for more information, and http://www.covd.org to find developmental optometrists in your area. A developmental vision evaluation has many tests not included in regular eye exams. The most common problems can be treated with vision software. See http://www.homevisiontherapy.com for more information.

Nancy

If he finds Wilson frustrating, he may find Fast ForWord ever so much more so. Motivation is often a significant challenge and parents have to come up with reward schemes, etc. — this is not necessarily a bad thing, as it’s pretty normal not to want to do something that is very difficult, and if FFW is addressing a processing problem then the exercises are going to be difficult.
It is also not cheap and I would want an objective recommendation, as, as has been said, it targets specific auditory processing problems though it’s marketed much more widely.

We did Fast Forward. It is not cheap, it is not fun, and it does not teach a child to read. It targets specific types of auditory processing issues which may make it more difficult for a child to learn to read. In our case, my son made huge strides in receptive language—he suddenly could understand what was going around him and followed directions much better. He also improved his auditory memory.

We got significant, permanent results from FFW but it is not something to do lightly.

If you think your son might benefit from improved auditory processing, I certainly would start with the computer program Earobics first. You can order it over the internet for somewhere around $60. FFW was around $1000 and I was the provider, which reduced the price considerably.

Beth

I too am a huge fan of FFW—but only for those with specific types of auditory processing issues. My son also made huge progress in his receptive language as a result of this program. Because it is demanding, I opted to have my son do it through a provider—I knew what they so nicely call “compliance problems” would be an issue if we did it home. Of course it drove the cost up, but it was better than spending $1000 to do it myself only to have it fail due to compliance issues.

I second Nancy’s suggestion of Sound Reading Solutions. Earobics has been around a number of years but it is a hard slog—this is a program that really takes its time between one exercise and the next and between one sound and the next—very frustrating for any kid that is computer game savvy. Sound Reading Solutions moves faster (although it is less intensive) and the progress from one exercise to the next is built in, so you don’t have to spend time deciding which exercise the child needs to do next and nagging him to do that one, not another he finds more fun (or easier). Earobics would be better for a child with real auditory processing problems, but Sound Reading Solutions is the better choice for children that are having reading problems but are otherwise on the ball auditorily.
I had my very bright neurologically typical dd use it this summer to improve her spelling and have been very pleased with the results—particularly given the relatively low cost in terms of both dollars and time.

Mariedc