Improvements in Language Skills & Literacy Skills

Students aged 5-14 years used Fast ForWord programs in a study in a study conducted by Sonic Hearing in four West Australian primary schools.

On average, the students who participated in the Fast ForWord program, made significantly better gains on a battery of language and literacy tests than a comparison group who received standard curriculum alone. 

        Literacy Skills improved from 12th to 25th percentile

        Receptive Language Skills improved from 12th to 21st percentile

        Expressive Language Skills improved from 10th to 18th percentile

 Methodology

The study was a randomised trial with a comparison group.  Students were assessed with the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fourth Edition - Australian Standardised Edition (CELF-4), and the Queensland University Inventory of Literacy (QUIL).

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.

The QUIL is a standardised clinical tool used to assess the phonological awareness skills of school age children as they pertain to literacy.

Source

Sonic Hearing (2007). Improved Language and Literacy Skills in Students who used Fast ForWord programs at State Primary Schools in Western Australia.

More Information

Read the Educators' Briefing: Australian Results - Schools WA