Independent Research Studies

In addition to the large number of independent school research studies supporting the effectiveness of Fast ForWord programmes, there are also an impressive number of independent research studies.

RESEARCH PAPERS

Temple, E., Deutsch, G.K., Poldrack, R.A., Miller, S.L., Tallal, P., Merzenich, M.M., Gabrieli, J.D.E. (2003). Neural Deficits in children with dyslexia ameliorated by behavioural remediation: Evidence from functional MRI. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 100(5), 2860-2865

Summary: Children diagnosed with dyslexia (reading difficulty) show a deficit in the neural mechanisms underlying phonological processing. Twenty children underwent functional MRI scanning before and after completing Fast ForWord. Following participation in Fast ForWord the children showed increased activity in multiple brain areas, bringing brain activation closer to that seen in normal-reading children. They also showed higher scores on language and reading tests.

For more information about this research study, please refer to the journal article (pdf format).

Schopmeyer, B., Mellon, N., Dobaj, H., Grant, G., Niparko, J.K. (2000). Use of Fast ForWord to enhance language development in children with cochlear implants. Annals of Otology Rhinology Laryngology 109(12), 95-98.

Temple, E., Poldrack, R.A., Protopapas, A., Nagarajan, S., Salz, T., Tallal, P., Merzenich, M.M., Gabrieli, J.D.E. (2000). Disruption of the neural response to rapid acoustic stimuli in dyslexia: Evidence from functional MRI. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(25), 13907-13912. Summary: Individuals diagnosed with dyslexia (reading difficulty) show an inability to rapidly process sensory input that enters the nervous system. Deficits in processing rapid auditory information are associated with impaired reading. Functional MRI brain scanning was used to show that normal readers show more left prefrontal activity in response to rapidly changing sounds when compared to slower sounds, but dyslexic readers showed no difference in the response. Two adults diagnosed with dyslexia participated in Fast ForWord and showed increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex after training. For more information about this research study, please refer to the journal article.

Habib, M., Espesser, R., Rey, V., Giraud, K., Bruas, P., Gres, C. (1999). Training dyslexics with acoustically modified speech: Evidence of improved phonological performance. Brain & Cognition, 40, 143-146. Summary: These authors propose a 'temporal processing deficit' theory of dyslexia, pointing to remediation of auditory processing problems as a pathway to remediating reading problems. For more information about this research study, please refer to the journal article.

Turner, S., & Pearson, D.W. (1998). Fast ForWord intervention programs: Four case studies. Texas Journal of Audiology and Speech Pathology, 13(Spring/Summer), 23-31. Summary: This paper presents four studies of children who have completed Fast ForWord training. These children displayed a range of difficulties including severe language disorder, English as a second language, ADHD, language-learning disability, dyslexia and auditory processing disorder. For more information about this research study, please refer to the journal article (pdf format).

ORGANISATIONS
De Anda I. (2000). Glasses for the Ears: Technology provides a critical link to literacy, Multimedia Schools: A Practical Journal of Technology, including Multimedia, CD-ROM, Online, Internet, & Hardware in K-12, 7(2).
Available: http://www.infotoday.com/mmschools/mar00/deanda.htm

Programs and Practices: Fast ForWord (2003). Education Commission of the States.
Available: http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/18/84/1884.htm

Schachter, J. (1999). Reading programs that work: A review of programs for Pre-kindergarten to 4th grade. Milken Family Foundation.
Available: http://www.mff.org/publications/publications.taf?page=279

Wahl M, Robinson C, Torgesen J. (2003). Florida Center for Reading Research: Fast ForWord Language

Florida Center for Reading Research.
Available: http://www.fcrr.org/FCRRReports/PDF/Fast_ForWord_Language_Report.pdf

What Works Clearinghouse (2007, July), Beginning Reading: Fast ForWord.
U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences.
Available: http://www.w-w-c.org/PDF/Intervention/WWC_Fast_ForWord_070907.pdf

What Works Clearinghouse (2006, September), English Language Learners: Fast ForWord Language (2006).
U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences.
Available: http://www.w-w-c.org/PDF/Intervention/WWC_Fast_ForWord_092806.pdf