Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment

Software At Home With Remote Oversight

Effective listening requires auditory processing of up to 40 sounds a second, an under-developed skill in 17-20% of children and adults.
Auditory processing disorder symptoms

If these skills do not develop naturally, through daily language interaction, auditory processing difficulties can persist, undermining reading and learning throughout life. Most often they do persist, as correcting cognitive difficulties like CAPD are not part of most school curriculums.

This is where Gemm Learning can help. Our auditory processing disorder treatment provides the extra stimulation and exercise that many children need to fully develop their auditory processing skills.

  Significant gains in reading and learning efficiency

  Research based software, backed by 240+ studies

  Only 30 minutes a day, at home for 3-6 months

Treatment Goals

Our treatment for auditory processing disorder is Fast ForWord software, a suite of programs that strengthens the various aspects of auditory processing difficulties -- processing speed, processing efficiency, sound discrimination, phonological awareness, working memory, attention and sequencing -- and then accelerates application of these strengthened skills to improving reading fluency and comprehension.
Auditory processing software

Just as a muscle always responds to exercise, Fast ForWord rewires the brain in every case. Eventual outcomes vary depending on how much of the program your child is able to complete. Almost all children over five years of age are able to complete enough material to see worthwhile gains.

Program For Reading Speed, Comprehension & Enjoyment
Central auditory processing disorder impacts phonological awareness, the ability to break words apart into individual sounds, called phonemes, e.g., hearing "cat" as |c| |a| |t|. If this is difficult, reading is like learning a whole new language. Studies suggest 88% of all reading issues are linked to weak phonological awareness, i.e., this is a critical skill, that if not mastered, will undermine reading speed, comprehension and enjoyment throughout life.

Our auditory processing program protocols build phonological awareness, making decoding automatic and effortless. This leads directly to better reading fluency. The second phase of Fast ForWord programs converts these new cognitive abilities into improved reading fluency and comprehension.
How we build fundamental reading skills

Improving Language -- Receptive and Expressive
Receptive language skills -- following directions, engaging in class -- are sometimes compromised in children with auditory processing difficulties. If a teacher or parent is talking at 50 miles per hour but your child is processing at 45 miles per hour, there is a problem. This gap also impedes a child's ability to participate in conversation which can lead to social and other issues. Expressive language -- vocabulary, articulation and conversation skills -- are also at risk in children with CAPD.

Fast ForWord treats language processing disorders by not only speeding up the underlying processing speed required to keep up, but also by making auditory processing more efficient and automatic so your child has time and capacity to think and observe while listening.
How we help language processing skills

Treatment For Attention Deficit
Many children with auditory processing disorder have difficulties with focus. They drift off in class because listening is exhausting and/or they are missing important chunks of information, making the lessons uninteresting. The natural reaction is to tune out. Fast ForWord helps by making listening easier, making it an effective auditory processing treatment for attention deficits.
Treatment For attention deficits

Fast ForWord Program

Gemm Learning is the largest private provider of the Fast ForWord program for home use in North America. Fast ForWord has helped over one million students process faster and more efficiently, making it the leading auditory processing disorder treatment nationwide. Since 2006, Gemm has been providing this powerful, in-clinic program in a home setting.

Why Fast ForWord Works
Fast ForWord is uniquely intense. It uses adaptive sound exercises that make every click count to strengthen processing speed, accuracy and efficiency. It also has exercises that build attention stamina and working memory skills, weaknesses often associated with central auditory processing difficulties. The programs use repetitive exercises that slowly build in speed and complexity, gradually pulling the student up to learning proficiency.

For most students, after 3-4 months of exercise, reading is easier, their language skills are improved, school and homework are both less daunting, and in a world that has now slowed down for them, they are more confident and focused.
Fast ForWord program for auditory processing disorder

Service Description
Students download the software to their home computer, and then work for 30 minutes a day. Their session data is then automatically uploaded to our server where it is reviewed by a Gemm professional who provides constant guidance, adjusting your child's individualized program protocols as needed.

We provide personal coaching -- phone and email support, Gemm City -- our super rewards website -- and My Gemm, a parent resources website packed with demo videos, points sheets, manuals and much more.
Auditory processing treatment service details

What To Expect

How Long Does It Take?
Our auditory processing programs are for K-12 children and adults. Students are with us for 2-8 months, working at least 30 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week, depending on their academic starting points and goals.

The auditory processing treatment tends to take longer to complete for elementary age children. This is because they need to first be trained to process accurately, before learning to process efficiently and automatically. For middle and high school students, who for the most part have mastered accurate auditory processing, the training is a shorter, one step process, i.e., to automate a skill that is already mastered albeit inefficiently.

Outcomes Timetable
There are no 100% guarantees (although Gemm is confident enough in its program to provide an outcome guarantee, but here is a typical timeline for children with auditory processing disorders:

For children under nine years of age
Most parents notice changes in language skills in the first 4-6 weeks -- better vocabulary, an easier time following directions, more active conversational skills and more confidence -- as your child now is starting to see that his/her learning future is transforming from Mission Impossible to something much more achievable. About that time, you may also notice more willingness to sound out while reading.

Once your child has completed Fast ForWord Language or around the three month mark, most parents notice more fluency in reading and the indications that reading comprehension is starting to improve. Over the next 1-2 years, depending on how long you stay with us, changes should then come at a steady rate; better reading, improved focus, stronger performance at school and more confidence.

For older children
Our auditory processing disorder treatment for older children is more about making known skills automatic and so the timetable for measurable changes is generally shorter as reading comprehension, the main focus of our program, is a reliable measure of reading progress.

Our advice to parents is to be patient and observant. Children with more severe auditory processing deficits may take longer to see gains. On the other hand, in high functioning students, we hear about changes within a couple of weeks.

The brain is integrated, with learning ability generally only as strong as its weakest link. By making even small improvements in auditory processing skills, the Fast ForWord program is able to make a profound difference in a short period, a difference that is then part of your child, to help learning over a lifetime.

Get Started With A Free Consult

The ultimate measure of our program is our client satisfaction rate: 96.8% of clients say they would recommend us to others. However, every child is different. To find out if your child is a candidate for our auditory processing disorder treatment, call for a free consult Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM EST, or if you prefer ask a question or request a different time here:
Request consult or contact us here.