App Review - Fun With Verbs and Sentences by Hamaguchi Apps

    

App Review –Fun with Verbs & Sentences HD

by Hamaguchi Apps for Speech, Language & Auditory Development

I am thrilled to provide a review for this ingenious app. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Fun With Verbs and Sentences HD  was developed for the young child to address basic agent+action+object/preposition sentence patterns and to formulate syntax structures.   

Features:

1. Includes 39 verbs and 266 adorable animations/sds (lite version has 10 verbs)

2. Teach verb concepts in 1-word phrase

3.Play “Build a sentence” or “Watch & Say”– Child taps on a picture of a Subject  (girl, boy ,bear.) Then tap an Action, “ What do you want the boy to do”, then pick  object, e.g. something for the boy to eat.  – up to a 6 word phrase.  Sentences can be expanded further using the prepositional phrase, e.g. “ Where will the boy jump?” and “ What is happening?”  Always have access to settings to change at a minutes notice.  You can end the session at any time.

4. Tap the recorded sentence, record the child, then play it back instantly. Quality of voice is excellent. The modeled voice is precise and has inflection.

5. Text and recording button

6. Settings are simple and easy to navigate and offer a graded progression of difficulty  

     with  6 categories:

·        Activities (Build a Sentence or Watch & Say)

·        Sentence Type (varied phrase lengths, pronouns He and She)

·        Verb List and Tenses ( ing, past & irregular past)

·        Cueing (visual/verbal prompts)

·        Progress Tracker(Collect Data)

·        Bubble Game( provides reinforcement after a number of questions)

The preschool children easily engaged with the adorable graphics and animations/sd of this app and wanted more! At first I worked in an isolated setting with 1 child (IEP goal of MLU 4 words) who had a huge smile on his face each time he heard his voice. He was quite engaged with this activity and maintained attention for at least 15 minutes. By the second session he was able to independently choose the agent, action and object/preposition and used 5 to 7 word phrases! In settings, I chose the cueing models with simple verbal and visual prompts.  The child tapped on the 3 color coded circles at the bottom of the screen at his pace to hear the sentence pattern. The animated activity is occurring as the child taps the circles. There is no rush to complete the sentence.   This was perfect for my student whose response time can be delayed at times. We then brought this app into the classroom where the teacher was happy to have the group participate. They were just as engaged as my student and patiently waited their turn.   I was surprised at the interest level of my preschoolers.  We did not need the Bubble Game to reinforce performance. The app itself was reinforcement. It took no time for me to learn to navigate and play with the Settings. I did watch the demo video just to see if I missed something, but I didn’t.  I love the auditory component of this app  - I was able to record the student’s voice with clarity and Hamaguchi did a top notch job in selecting voices which are appealing and have inflection.  This is especially helpful when working with a child who displays a monotone voice.  I could use this app as a screening tool to establish baselines.  This app can also be used for sentence recall, emerging readers and literacy development.     I do have a one wish list for future updates:   Is there is any way to decrease the MB Usage of 715?  I had to put some apps in the Cloud. $15.99 is a little pricey but worth it. There is a lite version available for .99 (10 verbs.)

Rubrics	Description	Rating
Curriculum	Material is accurate & evidence based, addresses task, offers large selection target. Addresses speech goals: 1.     Basic verb patterns 2.     MLU 3.     Verb tenses 4.     Pronouns	5
Flexibility	Flexibility to adjust settings , add/delete tasks,  audio recordings, back button	5
Ease of use	Can use app quickly, video demo instructions from developer, no glitches	5
Interest	Captures attention of user, simple graphics, interactive, animatioms	5
Value-Outcome	Accountability- time needed to complete task, # trials, results in improved student performance- record data – progress monitoring. Price $15.99 (lite .99)	5

 Fun With Verbs & Sentences HD

App Review - The Speech Flip Book

App Review -The Speech FlipBook

by Tactus Therapy

Reviewed to determine its value for the preschool child exhibiting phonological processes, apraxia or articulation concerns, since there are no pictures.

Tactus states “It’s as easy as 1-2-3 to have quick access to nearly every single-syllable word in the English language, suitable for all ages.” Features: 1.Create customized lists in  minutes - pick which consonants and vowels you want to appear in initial, medial, & final positions. Setting button offers choices in upper/lower case letters, inclusion of real/nonsense words, and more.   It is nicely organized to include a variety of CV, VC, CVC and cluster combinations arranged by bilabial,  labio-dental, dental, alveolar, palatal, velar and glottal placement. Vowel page is arranged by vowels, diphthongs, and R-controlled. 2. On the front (green) cover there is button that allows you to flip by word or sounds.  This is very useful for minimal pairs. If you flip the switch to sounds, the sound in each column can magically flip!!  3. Tap the recorded word and segmented sounds, record yourself, then play it back instantly 4. Includes over 2300 recordings of words in natural speech & 125 phonemes & clusters! Includes ALL vowels & consonants of Standard American English   5. It is straight forward drill with no bells & whistles.

This app works nicely with the preschool child as a 5 to 10 minute oral motor warm in imitating and sequencing CV, VC, CVC and cluster patterns.  The screen looks like a wire bound book with 3 columns – if you flip the switch to sounds on the front cover you can magically swipe individual sounds in each column.  Love this feature!!  It took a little time to learn to navigate and play with Settings. Once I got the hang of blank page setting on the app, it worked seamlessly.  I breezed through the sound list quickly when I needed to make changes. My preschooler liked tapping & swiping the buttons, hearing and imitating the words.  It  took seconds to change the settings to S blends. It was easy to remove a word with one quick swipe up. I love the auditory component of this app  - I was able to record the student’s voice. He then told me if his production of the word was the same as the man’s voice (choice of a woman’s voice would be nice too.)  If incorrect, he willingly recorded the word again. He then proceeded to produce the word correctly, we compared voices and he reported whether productions sounded the same or not. Sound patterns which were more difficult for him easily revealed themselves.  For this feature alone, it is a valuable tool for articulation work.  I was surprised at the interest level of my preschooler.   I could also use this app as a screening tool to establish baselines. This is also an incredible tool for emerging readers and literacy development for addressing phonological awareness, phonics and fluency. I do have a small wish list for future updates: In settings, I would like to be able to edit a word list more easily and save the customized list for the next session. Currently, if I am working on a different sound group with another child, I will lose my previous list. The price of $6.99 is affordable and well worth it.  See Rubrics Below for Speech FlipBook: Rubrics Description Likes Suggestion Rating Curriculum Speech Flipbook 6.99 Material is accurate & evidence based, addresses task, offers large selection target Setting button offers choices in upper/lower case letters, inclusion of real/nonsense words, and more. The complete word list can be customized to select specific words for therapy. It is organized to include a variety of combinations to click on including   sounds(nicely arranged by placement), clusters, vowels, final sounds and final clusters No pictures. This app is strictly auditory for imitation drill if you are working with a non-reader 5 Flexibility Flexibility to adjust settings & add/delete photos, add/delete tasks,  audio recordings, back button 1.Easy to move from one screen to the next.  Easy to swipe up and down which sound like the flipping of a page.  Easy to skip pages 2..Can quickly change from one group of words or level to another 3. 2300  combinations that can be customized for your student 4. The flip switch is on front cover very useful for minimal pair work - flip by words or sounds  It is time consuming to customize the word list in Edit Word List settings.    4 Ease of use Can use app quickly, instructions from developer, no glitches  Once I got the hang of it, this app is very easy to use       It took some time to navigate and play with  Settings before I got the hang of the app.  There is a  tutorial video & PDF for further instruction . 5 Interest Captures attention of user, simple graphics, interactive My preschooler liked tapping & swiping  the buttons, hearing and imitating  the words. He was working on S blends   It was easy to remove a word with one quick swipe up. Perfect for a 5-10 minute warm up activity. I was surprised at the interest level of my preschooler  No pictures. Additional voices – female and male 4 Value-Outcome Accountability- time needed to complete task, # trials, results in improved student performance- record data – progress monitoring  I love the auditory component of this app  -  student enjoyed recording his voice.  For this feature alone, it is a valuable tool for articulation work.     This is an incredible tool for emerging readers – addressing  phonological awareness, phonics and fluency. Offers Accountability and data for progress monitoring.     Price of $6.99 is reasonable and well worth it. Record keeping needs to be completed on paper by user 5

 

Review - Speech Therapy for Apraxia - CV 

By www.preschoolspeechie.com

       

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id512647583?mt=8

** Features **
• Choose from 8 different consonant groups (for a total of 19 consonant sounds) to target. 
• For each group, choose from 8 levels to practice
• Detailed instructions explain how to choose an appropriate consonant group and practice level. 
• Move through a logical progression of 8 different levels for motor planning for speech. 
• Illustrations and audio provided for each syllable. 
• Option to repeat levels, reset, or move to next level. 
• Can also be used for straight articulation drill for particular phonemes.

This app was reviewed to determine its value for the preschool child exhibiting phonological processes, apraxia or articulation concerns.  I was impressed with how well this app was organized and its ease of use.  It also held the child’s interest. You cannot beat the price at $4.99.  This app is especially beneficial for  probing stimulability of sequencing consonant-vowel sounds, using as a screening tool  and proving one of the best organized oral motor warm-up in a hierarchy of levels.   This app mainly focuses on static CV patterns (can’t be changed) and gives the student practice with up to 5 co-articulatory sequences, e.g. alveolar - toe dye two toe two, but there is no flexibility in adding or deleting CV combinations.  What you see is what you get.  Overall, it is still a valuable tool for the Speech Toolbox and highly recommended.  See rubrics below:

Rubrics	Description	Likes	Suggestions	Rating
Curriculum	Material is accurate & evidence based, addresses task, offers large selection target	CV – select group of 3 consonants organized according to place of articulation and ease of production, e.g. bilabials m,p,b Organized format for learning 8 levels of CV combinations for motor sequencing.   Can tap on a word to hear what the word is This app works for preschoolers with phonological processes, apraxia, artic.	1.I would like to see a level with an alternating vowel component, e.g. oohahh 2. I would like to see the use of more functional  CV patterns strung together	4
Flexibility	Flexibility to adjust settings & add/delete photos, add/delete tasks,  audio recordings, back button	1.Easy to move from one screen to the next.  2.Can quickly change from one group of sounds or level to another.  Easy to do a quick probe for stimulability and to establish a baseline at each level.	CV patterns are pre -chosen for each level and arranged in a specific order on the screen.  I would like to see an update which reduces the redundancy and limitation of levels.  I would like to be able to create my own pattern with the ability to select  CV patterns from a list  and move them into the designated boxes.	3
Ease of use	Can use app quickly, instructions from developer, no glitches	Love the simplicity of this app – it’s self- explanatory . This app is very easy to use and does not require instructions.  A preschooler was able to tap the pictures and swipe independently.  She knew to repeat the word when heard.	Watched the video  on how to use app & written instructions, but was not really necessary. Did not learn anything new.	5
Interest	Captures attention of user, simple graphics, interactive	This app is strictly for imitation drill, as the preschooler liked tapping & swiping  the buttons, hearing and imitating  the syllables. There are no bells & whistles.  Perfect for a warm up activity.	Would like to see a voice recording for the student.	4
Value-Outcome	Accountability- time needed to complete task, # trials, results in improved student performance- record data – progress monitoring	Offers Accountability and data for progress monitoring of CV.  Repetitive co-articulation of up to 5 varied CV patterns.  Price of $4.99 is reasonable.  You get numerous trials.	Record keeping needs to be completed on paper by user	5

 Developed by the National Association for Child Development team, including a certified speech-language pathologist, the Apraxia app provides choices of different phonemes to target and moves through a progression of levels that challenge motor planning for speech.

Working at the syllable level, it begins at the production of single syllables and progresses through increasingly difficult production sequences all the way to the production of sequences of random syllables.

About NACD
The National Association for Child Development is a unique organization with a unique approach to brain growth and development. Founded in 1979 by Bob Doman, NACD has helped parents enhance the development and function of their children for over 30 years. In its work with tens of thousands of clients, NACD has developed an approach to human development, the achievement of human potential, and the remediation of developmental, educational, and neurological problems that is based upon the gestalt of the individual. The efficacy of NACD's Targeted Developmental Intervention has been demonstrated with individuals from infant to geriatric, whose function has ranged from comatose to gifted. It is from this background and experience that the NACD team of neurodevelopmentalists and therapists, including speech/language pathologists, has created the NACD Home Speech Therapist line of speech apps.

Blue Whale Web SiteSpeech Therapy for Apraxia - NACD Home Speech Therapist