Tarnow Articles

Enhance Learning by Creating New Pathways in the Brain by: Linda Narun, MA.CCC-SLP

Parents, educators and politicians alike, have grown concerned about the falling standards of both reading and written expression skills in middle and high school students.

The 1998 Reading Report Card published by the U.S. Department of Education indicated that approximately 25% of students in the eighth and twelfth grades were below a basic reading level; about 66% of students in these grades were below a proficiency level. If we are to raise the academic levels of these students, intervention must be provided earlier in their academic careers. The National Research Council has stressed the importance of language development as fundamental to the acquisition of reading. For a variety of reasons, some children have difficulty with the natural development of language. Children with developmental language difficulties, ADHD, and other neurobiological disorders are at high risk for academic failure. Professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the need to provide intervention for these children to minimize the difficulties that lead to academic, social and vocational failure.

Encouraging neurobiological research is showing, contrary to previous beliefs, that the brain continues to develop Through life and that new pathways can be laid down in the brain that can facilitate learning. Children and adults with learning difficulties can make fundamental changes in the way the brain processes auditory and language information and consequently improve comprehension, the ability to express ideas, reading and written expression. As new technology becomes available that facilitates development of neural pathways, it is important that students be given the opportunity to benefit from such intervention. With improved ability to learn language, both oral and written, teaching by more conventional methods can be successful. The outlook for improved academic skills increases, leading to an adult population that is better able to be successful economically and socially.

Fast ForWord

One such program that has demonstrated the ability to make fundamental changes in the brain leading to greater success is Fast ForWord. This family of auditory programs is a computer-based training system developed by Scientific Learning that helps students of all ages and learning abilities rapidly improve language, reading and learning skills in just weeks instead of years. The programs combine research on how the brain learns with the latest technology to cross train the brain on the series of skills needed to become a good reader. The programs and the science behind them have been the subject of numerous national news articles including features in Time magazine and Newsweek magazine. In addition to significant gains in language and reading skills, parents and teachers report positive changes in their Fast ForWord students' classroom behavior including participating enthusiasm for learning and better social interaction with their peers.

Fast ForWord Language, Fast ForWord Language to Reading, Fast ForWord Rading and Fast For ForWord Middle & High School programs are used for students in K-12. The programs feature interactive, animated exercises disguised as "games" and use patented technologies to adapt to each student's skill level. If you think that one of the programs would help you or your child attain better listening, communication or reading skills please call Linda Narun for additional information at (713) 621-9515.