Fast ForWord For Autism

Software Description & Service Features

Fast ForWord is emerging as a popular autism treatment because it exercises and builds auditory processing speed, a defining characteristic common in close to 100% of children and adults with autism.

Autistic children make the same kinds of errors in language and reading as higher functioning children, except that children on the autism spectrum make more of them. The Fast ForWord program is very often able to resolve these language and reading errors for higher functioning children.
Auditory processing delays and ASD and PDD students

And now there is mounting evidence and confidence that this treatment can help autistic children also. Our parents are reporting gains in language, thinking and reading after Fast ForWord, although outcomes do vary for the autism population, more than is the case for higher functioning students.
Research on Fast ForWord

Scientific Evidence Of Efficacy For Autism and Asperger's
Anecdotal success of Fast ForWord helping autism has created real interest in our program for children with developmental delays -- PDD-NOS, autism and Asperger syndrome. We have had some wonderful feedback feedback from our families with autistic students.

But, whereas Fast ForWord has been tested in depth as a reading and language program in more than 200 clinical trials involving many thousands of students, there have only been a handful of trials conducted so far involving the autism population. The results, while consistently positive, are also difficult to draw conclusions from, since the population -- from pervasive development disorder, to high function autism, to Asperger's, to the broader autism population -- is extremely diverse.

Autism Protocol And Support Details

Gemm Learning has been providing at home treatments for autism, using Fast ForWord, since 2006. The program is made up of discrete exercises that emphasize processing speed, selective attention, working memory, listening comprehension, phonological awareness and sequencing.
Fast ForWord program for autism, including Asperger syndrome

The most challenging aspect of the remote protocols for children with Pervasive Development Disorder or autism is getting started, being able to progress out of the initial training level mode. This is where Gemm's experience with the remote, at home experience is so helpful -- we have interventions, demos, and coaching tips to handle any difficulties. Almost all Asperger's and high functioning autistic students need no help getting started on our program.

In fact, it is very rare that an autistic student is unable to make progress, although lower functioning students often need help getting started from our professionals. If however, there are difficulties, every client has the benefit of our Risk Free Start. If after two weeks, you or Gemm feel the program is not right, for any reason, we provide a full refund.

The Software Adapts
One critical reason Fast ForWord is proving to be effective in helping autism is that the program is adaptive and self-organizing, meaning that the student works at his/her own pace. Confidence in students with autism is typically fragile, making this adaptive aspect particularly valuable as it avoids frustration -- it keeps students in their zone, pulling them up if they can handle the higher speed or complexity, but it will fall back if three consecutive errors are made at these higher levels.

A Gemm Professional Monitors Every Click
The software is loaded onto your home computer and then after every session we receive an upload of every keystroke, every error, where progress is being made and where it is not. Your dedicated Gemm professional will make protocol adjustments, intervention suggestions and will be in regular contact by phone and/or email, particularly in the early phase.

The Software Is Engaging
The protocol is 30 minutes a day (it can be broken up into smaller segments), five days a week for 3-6 months. Most autistic children do need someone either sitting with them or in the room. We find parents or babysitters are perfectly capable of fulfilling this role -- no instruction is required. Since the program is adaptive, we find it helps autistic students build confidence from being able to work at their own pace.

We add to the engagement with Gemm City (www.gemmcity.com), an incentives website where daily sessions can be converted into prizes, virtual rooms, sweepstakes, support for causes, and more. We find our PDD and autism students respond well to these added incentives.

Reporting and Support
We start by developing an individualized program plan, based on a Behavioral Survey, an initial reading assessment and a few program sessions. For many autistic children, the treatment protocol options are clear without the assessment, and so it can be waived at your request. Once underway, you will receive a weekly progress report with details on each exercise, mapped out daily. To help support the at home environment, we also have My Gemm (www.mygemm.com), a dedicated parents resource site, which has point sheets, coaching tips, demo videos, background material on the science and more.

Home Schooling Help For Autism
Fast ForWord is being added by parents home schooling autistic children now that there is a service like ours where the protocol decisions are made by a remote professional who sees every click. The goals vary from improving expressive and/or receptive language, to improving reading.
Home schooling help for autistic children