Gains in Language Skills

Students aged 6-13 years used Fast ForWord programs as part of their speech therapy sessions at the Lindfield Speech Pathology and Learning Centre in Lindfield, Australia.

Following Fast ForWord use, students made significant improvements in overall language and early reading ability, gaining nearly two-thirds of a standard deviation. Average gains correspond to improving from the 14th percentile to the 32nd.

Improved Language and Early Reading Skills

Methodology

Student reading ability was assessed with the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Third Edition (CELF-3), -Fourth Edition (CELF-4) or -Revised Edition (CELF-R) before and after Fast ForWord participation

Measures

The CELF is a comprehensive language test widely used to measure a student's ability to understand words and sentences, follow directions, recall and formulate sentences, and understand relationships between words and categories.

Implementation

Devon Barnes, the Centre Director, was interested in evaluating the effectiveness of Fast ForWord programs on student language and reading achievement.

The implementation process began with staff members receiving preliminary training in a number of areas, including:

• Methods for assessing candidates for participation;
• Selection of appropriate standardized language measures for testing and evaluation;
• Effective implementation techniques;
• Proper administration of the products and effective methods for monitoring student progress.

Source

Scientific Learning Corporation. (2006). Improved Language and Reading Skills by Students in NSW Australia who used Fast ForWord® Products, MAPS for Learning: Educator Reports, 10(3): 1-5.

Data provided by the Lindfield Speech Pathology and Learning Centre, Lindfield, Australia; Centre personnel were responsible for administering all tests and collecting all scores.

More Information

Read the Educators' Briefing