Computer-assisted treatment resources

Many people have written asking for information on computer-assisted treatment, available software. What follows are some resources that may be helpful.

Language in the Classroom

Kindergarten - Fifth Grade

Language in the Classroom was a grant funded by the Mississippi Department of Education. The grant participants included Ginny Sindoll, Claire Easley, Carolyn Westrope, Diane Bryant, Ricky Burk, and Bonnie Buntin.

Among other things, the funding for this project provided for the purchase of software materials. These materials were reviewed by the language grant participants throughout the project. The review was based on the use of materials during student instruction. Included in the review were disk software and CD-ROM disks.

Permission has been granted to place online the review of these computer materials used in language therapy. They have been rated by the grant participants as poor, fair, good and excellent, the applicable language therapy objectives have been included, and the source provided.

  • CD-ROM Software For Early Elementary Students
  • CD-ROM Software For Later Elementary Students
  • Disk Software For Later Elementary Students

    What follows are some resources collected and organized initially from responses (by J Mumme, M Unger, S. Petrik, M Chial, M Flahive, T Schilder, G Lista, J Appel and J Scherz) to a question posed (by R. Liebowitz) on the grndrnds listserv and from a session at the 1995 ASHA convention by T Hallett and FA Proctor. This page should not be considered a personal endorcement of any product or company, but rather contains suggestions by people working clinically. If any clinician has suggestions to add to this site, I'd be happy to consider integrating them. Also, does someone care to tackle computer-assisted assessment instruments to add here as well? Perhaps we can develop a valuable information resource together! Judy Kuster

    Software

    Boardmaker is a software program developed to create picture communication boards, but several other suggested uses for it are picture/text overlays for a variety of high tech systems (touch talker, super wolf), picture dictionaries for process writing, grids for a multitude of uses, graphic organizers, pic-syms above text to aid in reading. Useful for SLPs, SPED teachers, and regular ed. as well. Available from Mayer-Johnson for $400, or a 5 machine site license for $1000.

    Broderbund's CD Storybooks, PAC/PC ($39.95@)
    Just Grandma and Me - PreK-4
    The Tortoise and the Hare - PreK-4
    Arthur's Teacher Trouble - K-5
    Ruff's Bone - K-3
    Little Monster At School - PreK-3
    Arthur's Birthday - K-6
    Harry and the Haunted House - K-6
    New Kid on the Block - 1-6
    Berenstein Bears - K-3

    Computer Curriculum Corporation's CD's MAC/PC ($29.95@)
    Busytown
    How Things Work in Busytown
    Richard Scarry books

    Kidspread's CDs - recommend MAC only ($19.95)
    Mud Puddle
    Paper Bag Princess
    Scary Poems for Rotten Kids
    Tale of Peter Rabbit
    Thomas' Snowsuit
    Heather Hits Her First Home Run
    Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache

    McGee programs - the following were recommended for preschoolers
    Mixed up Mother Goose,
    Play Room
    Talking Sticky Bear ABC's

    Psychological Corporation
    Picture Gallery - (Articulation and Phonlogy) CD mac/pc
    Picture Gallery - (Language: Thematic Units) CD mac/pc

    Sentence Master by Marion Blank is a "linguistically-based reading program that integrates computer activities and print materials." Developed for students with or at risk of literacy problems, it is designed overcome the language deficits associated with poor reading, including "deficits in the areas of naming, syntax, and comprehension." Available from Laureate Learning Systems.

    Write Aloud, a software package from Don Johnston Catalog. It is a word processing program which allows student to minimize keyboarding skills, has a predictive spelling feature and provides auditory feedback (speaks the typed message as you enter it). If you call company they will send you a demo disk free of charge. Other Don Johnston software suggestions are Co-Writer and Blocks in Motion

    Cross Platform Medical Software Solutions for the Macintosh OS and Windows 95 is an example of medical billing programs available.

    Distributors

    Bungalow Software was formed by Clay Nichols & Terri Brancewicz to provide products for Speech/Language Pathologists and their clients. Their first product, FreeForm is a shareware product which automates the process of printing speech, language, and cognition treatment materials.

    Edmark has very functional-based reading programs on disk--right now only for Apple.

    Laureate Learning Systems, has software for very severely involved students as well as language programs for children Winooski, BT 05404
    1-800-562-6801

    Parrot Software call 1-800-parrot-1 for a catalog.
    or visit their web site for an overview of what they offer. A wide range of programs are available to address cognitive, language and/or functional daily activities.

    LAB Resources, a company specializing in software and hardware for special needs and education, includes information on how can computers be used in articulation/voice therapy

    Internet links to explore for software and information

    Literacy software for young children

    Leslie Kefauver's Homepage suggests and evaluates software she uses in her clinical work with children ages 7-15.

    gopher://gopher.ed.gov/ contains a downloadable depository of software.

    http://www.software.net/ features searchable access to 50,000 magazine articles, some of which must be reviews of relevant materials. However, this site is not limited to SLP or special ed software.

    Altavista search engine will produce several hundred hits for "K-12 software"

    References to explore

    (Includes several bibliographical references suggested by Paula Cochran, Michael Chial, Richard Katz, Ann Lieberth, Mike Guerrieri, Doug Martin, Julie Masterson, Richard McGuire, Julie Scherz, Art Schwartz, and Michael Wynne from a "cracker barrel" session, ASHA convention, Orlando, FL, 1995. Additional suggestions are welcome)

    ASHA software review checklist, ASHA, May, 1984, p. 64.

    Bull, G.L., Cochran, P.S., and Snell, M.E. (1988) Beyond CAI: Computers, language, and persons with mental retardation. Topics in Language Disorders, 8(4), 55-76

    Cochran, P.S. and Bull, G.L (1991) Integrating word processing into language therapy. Topics in Language Disorders, 11(2), 31-48.

    Cochran, P.S. and Bull, G.L. (1992) Computer-assisted learning and instruction In J. Rassi, and M. McElroy (eds), The Education of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (pp. 363-386)

    Curtis, J. (1987). An introduction to microcomputers in speech, language, and hearing. Boston: Little Brown, & Co.

    Goldman, R. and Dahle, A.J. (1985) Current and emerging applications of microcomputer technology in communication diosrders. Topics in Language Disorders, 6(1), 11-25

    Grossman, M., & Grossman, C. (Eds). (1986). Microcomputer Application in Rehabilitation Communication Disorders. Rockville, MD: Aspen Publishers.

    Houle, G.R. (1988) Computer usage by speech-language pathologists in public schools. Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, 19, 423-427.

    Katz, R.C. (1986) Aphasia treatment and microcomputers, San Diego, CA: College Hill.

    Lindsey, J.D. (1987) Special magic-computers, classroom strategies and exceptional students. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Pub.

    Lindsey, J. (1993) Computers and exceptional individuals, 2nd edition, Austin, TX: Pro-Ed

    Masterson,J.J. (1995) Computer applications in the schools: What we can do - what we should do. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools 26(3), 211-212.

    McGuire, R (1995) Computer-based instrumentation: Issues in clinical applications Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools 26(3), 232-240

    Mendel, L.L., Wynne, M.K., English, K. and Schmidt-Troike, A (1995) Compuer applications in educational audiology Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools 26(3), 232-240.

    Meyers, L. (1984). Unique contributions of microcomputers to language intervention with handicapped children. Seminars in Speech and language, 5(1), 23-32.

    O'Connor, L. and Scherey, T.K. (1986) A comparison of microcomputer-assisted and traditional language therapy for developing communication skills in nonoral toddlers Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 51(4), 356-361

    Prinz, P.M. (1991) Literacy and language development with microcomputer-videodisc-assisted interactive contexts Journal of Childhood Communication Disorders 14(1), 67-80.

    Russell, S.J., Corwin, R., Mokros, J.R. and Kapisovsky, P.M. (1988) Beyond drill and proactice: Expanding the computer mainstream, Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children

    Schery, T.K. and O'Connor, L.C. (1992) The effectiveness of school-based computer language intervention with severely handicapped children Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools 23(1), 43-47

    Schwartz, A. (Ed.). (1984). Handbook of Microcomputer Applications in Communication Disorders. San Diego: College Hill.

    Steiner, S. and Larson, V.L. (1991) Integrating microcomputers into language intervention with children. Topics in Language Disorders 11(2), 18-30.

    Volin, R.A> (1991) Microcomputer-based systems providing biofeedback of voice and speech production Topics in Language Disorders 11(2), 65-79


    last updated February 16, 1999
    Judy Kuster