Assistive Assistive Technology for Technology for Students with Students with

Auditory Auditory Processing Processing DisabilitiesDisabilities

Auditory Processing Auditory Processing DisabilityDisability

Children with Auditory Processing Children with Auditory Processing Disabilities can hear speech normally, Disabilities can hear speech normally, but have difficulty processing and but have difficulty processing and retaining it.retaining it.

The following presentation displays The following presentation displays some of the assistive technology some of the assistive technology that can be used with students that can be used with students who have an auditory processing who have an auditory processing disability.disability.

These students require extra time These students require extra time and assistive technology to aid and assistive technology to aid them with their auditory memory them with their auditory memory and attention.and attention.

Carbonless PaperCarbonless Paper This paper is effective for This paper is effective for

the student who has the student who has difficulty turning lecture difficulty turning lecture into notes. This enables into notes. This enables another student, aide, or another student, aide, or the teacher to write the the teacher to write the

notes once for notes once for themselves, and produce themselves, and produce

copies for the auditory copies for the auditory disabled student. It is disabled student. It is

available in full available in full notebooks, assignment notebooks, assignment pads, loose leaf paper, pads, loose leaf paper, and story frame paper.and story frame paper.

Classroom Amplifier Classroom Amplifier SystemsSystems

This system is installed in This system is installed in a classroom to provide a classroom to provide stereo sound. The teacher stereo sound. The teacher wears a microphone, wears a microphone, which then transmits which then transmits sound to the speakers. sound to the speakers.

This is beneficial for This is beneficial for the student who has the student who has trouble hearing trouble hearing specific sounds, such specific sounds, such as the teacher’s voice.as the teacher’s voice.

Personal FM TrainerPersonal FM Trainer

This device consists of a microphone This device consists of a microphone worn by the teacher, and a headset worn by the teacher, and a headset worn by the student. The student is worn by the student. The student is able to directly hear what the able to directly hear what the teacher is saying through the head teacher is saying through the head set, proving to be less obtrusive and set, proving to be less obtrusive and distracting than the classroom distracting than the classroom amplification system. amplification system.

Based on personal experience, this Based on personal experience, this device also draws less attention to device also draws less attention to the student, providing to be a the student, providing to be a positive learning experience.positive learning experience.

Variable-Speech Control Variable-Speech Control Tape RecorderTape Recorder This is similar to any generic tape This is similar to any generic tape

recorder, and can be found in most recorder, and can be found in most electronics stores. The component electronics stores. The component that is beneficial to the student that is beneficial to the student with auditory processing disabilities with auditory processing disabilities is the variable speech control. This is the variable speech control. This allows the student to record lecture allows the student to record lecture notes, and play them back later at notes, and play them back later at a speed the student can a speed the student can comfortably understand. The comfortably understand. The speed can be adjusted faster or speed can be adjusted faster or slower so that the student will be slower so that the student will be able to reinforce the information in able to reinforce the information in a way it can be easily be a way it can be easily be comprehended.comprehended.

Books on DiscBooks on Disc Textbooks and leisure reading Textbooks and leisure reading

books may be loaded onto a books may be loaded onto a computer using special computer using special software. The book is then software. The book is then synthesized using voice synthesized using voice output, and ‘read’ to the output, and ‘read’ to the student using a multi-sensory student using a multi-sensory approach on the computer. approach on the computer. Pairing auditory with visual Pairing auditory with visual cues enhances the cues enhances the comprehension level of the comprehension level of the student, and provides a student, and provides a positive listening experience.positive listening experience.

AlphaSmartAlphaSmart

This device is a simple version of a This device is a simple version of a laptop. It allows the student or an laptop. It allows the student or an aide to type notes, assignments, aide to type notes, assignments, and class work in organized files and class work in organized files for each subject. The student is for each subject. The student is then able to directly connect the then able to directly connect the device to a printer or computer device to a printer or computer and print the text in minutes. and print the text in minutes.

I have not only seen I have not only seen positive results for the positive results for the learner with auditory learner with auditory processing disabilities, but processing disabilities, but also those who need also those who need assistance in note taking assistance in note taking or organization. The or organization. The AlphaSmart is designed to AlphaSmart is designed to be simple enough for a be simple enough for a student to learn to use student to learn to use rather quickly, and rather quickly, and without difficulty.without difficulty.

Electronic NotebookElectronic Notebook

This is a more complex device than the AlphaSmart, This is a more complex device than the AlphaSmart, designed for the computer-savvy student. This is a designed for the computer-savvy student. This is a smaller version of a personal computer and can be smaller version of a personal computer and can be used anywhere and anytime to take notes, produce used anywhere and anytime to take notes, produce media files, and use software. This would also be media files, and use software. This would also be able to load specific software for the student, as the able to load specific software for the student, as the AlphaSmart is simply a word processing component. AlphaSmart is simply a word processing component. Since it is designed to be portable, notebooks usually Since it is designed to be portable, notebooks usually average about 5 pounds in weight, making it easier average about 5 pounds in weight, making it easier for students to carry around. for students to carry around.

This device would not only benefit the auditory This device would not only benefit the auditory processing deficient student, but also those students processing deficient student, but also those students who need assistance in organization or fine motor who need assistance in organization or fine motor skills.skills.

CART – Computer Aided CART – Computer Aided Realtime TranslationRealtime Translation This is a method of captioning lectures, classes, Television This is a method of captioning lectures, classes, Television

shows, and other forms of auditory mediashows, and other forms of auditory media

A CART reporter listens to the auditory material, and A CART reporter listens to the auditory material, and then types it into a stenotype keyboard connected to a then types it into a stenotype keyboard connected to a computer. It is then translated into readable language computer. It is then translated into readable language for the student to see on a separate monitor.for the student to see on a separate monitor.

The text on the screen will reflect everything going on in the The text on the screen will reflect everything going on in the environment, including environmental sounds and speaker identifiers. environment, including environmental sounds and speaker identifiers. Examples include: Examples include: INSTRUCTOR: INSTRUCTOR: MALE STUDENT: MALE STUDENT: FEMALE STUDENT: FEMALE STUDENT: (LAUGHTER) (LAUGHTER) (APPLAUSE) (APPLAUSE) (BELL RINGING) (BELL RINGING)

CART – Computer Aided CART – Computer Aided Realtime TranslationRealtime Translation

This is beneficial for college students, as most classes This is beneficial for college students, as most classes are lecture. Some colleges have a CART reporter on are lecture. Some colleges have a CART reporter on staff for those students with auditory impairment.staff for those students with auditory impairment.

This is also how closed captioning on television This is also how closed captioning on television is provided for those who are hearing impaired.is provided for those who are hearing impaired.

Windows XP also offers a caption feature that can be turned on to provide all information visually.

Click here for directions on how to install this feature

CommentaryCommentary Although these assistive technologies can Although these assistive technologies can

be very helpful for students with auditory be very helpful for students with auditory processing deficiencies, it is important for processing deficiencies, it is important for all staff involved to have adequate training, all staff involved to have adequate training, as well as tech support for troubleshooting.as well as tech support for troubleshooting.

It is also important to remember that not It is also important to remember that not every piece of technology will benefit a every piece of technology will benefit a child with auditory processing deficiencies. child with auditory processing deficiencies. Each piece of technology should be tested Each piece of technology should be tested on a trial basis to see if it is effective. on a trial basis to see if it is effective.

Thank you!