Distinguishing Sound Sources • There are many online sites that allow “sound effects” to be downloaded. These include footsteps, airplanes, helicopters, emergency vehicles, etc.; you can find just about any sound you would hear in the natural environment. Auditory training might include becoming familiar with what these sounds actually are. Can a learner discern the difference between the rhythmic tapping of a pen tapping the table from the rhythmic pattern of foot steps, or even rain drops into a puddle. These sounds, like visual information, may have to be taught more deliberately, through explicit instruction. You can also use a smart phone to record sounds in the environment that can be saved as mp3 or wav files and shared with the learner so they can practice identifying them. • This strategy is as much for developing auditory skills as it is for evaluating them. Go on a “Sensory Adventure” to observe what the student is able to detect or respond to. This could be done in any setting and you can preplan some sound sources that will either be triggered by you (e.g. A wireless doorbell, noise making toy attached to a motion sensor) or having someone else that can assist with creating the noises while you attend to observing the learner for signs of detecting/alerting to the auditory information and the conditions at that time (i.e. Distance from sound source, presence of competing auditory information, etc.). With learners who are able to communicate through formal language, you can “Adventure” into other areas and ask that the learner “sense aloud” and share with you what they are picking up on through the auditory channel. This may include some spontaneous reporting as well as some prompted reporting. Recognizing Sound Masking • Working with two radios playing different types of music or sounds, adjust the volume so that both are approximately at equal levels. Ask the learner to sit in a location/position that allows them to hear both radios equally. Have the learner increase the volume of one of the radios until the sound overpowers the other radio’s sound. • Bring folding chairs to an intersection and have the learner listen to idling vehicles at the intersection. Ask the learner to continue trying to listen for the idling cars as another lane receives the green ball/light from the signal and their surge is heard. Ask if the learner was still able to hear the idling cars or if the sound of the surge washed out/masked the quieter sound of the idling vehicles. Localizing Sounds • Beginning in quiet room or an area where you have some control over the environment to ensure that you will be able to keep your sound cue as the only auditory input, keep a constant sound source playing sound as you walkaround the learner in a larger circle. Have the learner point to you/the sound source and continue to track you as you circumnavigate around them, going completely around in both directions. • Place a sound source a good distance from the learner and have them point to where they hear the sound source and then ask them to walk to it. These activities can be used as part of an Orientation and Mobility lesson or to give students who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind practice with auditory discrimnation and developing other auditory skills. Brain-training research is still young, but studies suggest that some forms of brain training have positive effects on a child’s ability to learn, his behavior, and his emotions. We don’t know exactly how work to deliver their benefits. More research needs to be done. Still, parents may want to check out the following programs to see if they address their child’s needs. Developed by neuroscientists from Yale University, C8 Sciences’ program is designed for children with ADHD, autism, executive function disorder, and other cognitive deficits. The company’s program for home use—made for a computer or a mobile device—combines cognitive function games with a 20- to 30-minute exercise program, three to five times a week. ACTIVATE is designed to enhance memory skills, improve the ability to pay attention, and boost other cognitive skills. Is a learning system that uses a high-tech armband to read brain signals indicative of focus or concentration. When you are engaged or paying attention, the brain emits a signal—an attention signature. The armband monitors this signal through the body and transmits it wirelessly to the computer, so your mind becomes the mouse or joystick as you play the video games and complete the interactive exercises. The games teach you to improve focus, ignore distractions, develop memory skills, and finish tasks. Flash games make it easy for kids to improve their short-term memory and speed recognition skills. Kids love practicing their memory skills while playing fun online games like the traditional Simon color memory game and card flipping memory match game as well as more original memory games like Puzzle Shuffle Memory. Children who have Phonemic Awareness skills. Some smart-listening skills kids can learn by playing the games: Auditory. Phonemic Awareness Games to Play, Free! Games that Target Auditory Processing or Related Skills. Toys and Games to Build Auditory Processing Skills-list. Great free online games for auditory and. [] This software from targets six major brain areas, improving concentration and problem-solving. It is also available as a and Android, with 40 brain-training games. The games promote crucial brain skills, such as memory, processing speed, and visual-spatial recognition. The Fit Brains system tailors each exercise to a child’s needs. Uses a suite of 20-plus games and exercises on its website to give individualized assessment and strategies to improve cognitive and emotional skills, including memory, focus, stress reduction, and positivity. The program is designed for children over 13 (and adults) and offers personalized recommendations for improving brain health. Is the home version of Interactive Metronome, a neurotherapy program used by more than 20,000 therapists and doctors. It is a computer-based cognitive trainer that uses a metronome-like tool, along with a headset and hand gear. Kids have to clap in rhythm while “conquering different animated worlds.” Kids participate in fourteen 20-minute sessions in which they listen to beats, clap hands, and “receive instant, measurable feedback through scoring, sounds, and light cues.” Research suggests that keeping a precise beat—called neurotiming—may be important for focus, working memory, and language processing skills. Atentiv uses a child’s “cognitive signature” of EEG brainwave activity to measure attention, second to second. Atentiv has a headband containing an EEG-based brain-to-computer interface that precisely measures attention levels in real time. Children play the specialized video game on a computer or mobile device, using their attention levels to make their moves (no keyboard is used). Playing the game helps a child identify her “attention muscle” and strengthen it. Atentiv reports that “eight hours over an eight-week period improves a child’s academic performance and behavior at home.” [] MindSparke has developed a set of video games designed to improve IQ, academic performance, and test-taking. Their product, Brain Fitness Pro, is available in a variety of forms, including “Jr.” (for kids 6-11) and “IC” to help with impulse control. MindSparke can also be used to improve academic performance and enhance studying for high-stakes tests. According to MindSparke research, doing meditation, in addition to playing the games, can increase mental gains. Myndlift is a mobile neurofeedback app aimed at improving focus and attention. It uses real-time brainwave measurements and visual/auditory feedback. This type of brain training has been available only in clinics and professional settings until now, so making it available and affordable to more people is a breakthrough. Myndlift is currently in the beta phase of development. It may be available later this year. BrainTrain is a set of computerized cognitive-training systems focused on brain training and cognitive rehabilitation. Offers tools to assess ADHD, improve reading, and exercise the brain. It can be used at home or provided through medical and psychological professionals. BrainTrain’s Captain’s Log MindPower Builder offers 50 programs, with more than 2,000 games, that train 20 different cognitive skills. Research suggests that these products can improve memory and attention.
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April 2018
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