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FAQ 4 |
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Question
Is the provider experienced working with children who have learning problems that are of specific interest to you (such as ADD, ADHD, autism, PDD, dyslexia, Down Syndrome, hearing loss)?
Answer
In our practice as school psychologists, we have dealt with every learning problem listed here and more. In our experience of providing Fast ForWord, we have treated students who have dyslexia, sometimes in combination with ADD or ADHD, and central auditory processing disorder.
We do not yet have experience treating students who have so-called pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), autism, or any of the mental retardation syndromes. Also, we have not yet treated any students who have hearing loss. We have a good background of experience with these conditions, though, and would welcome clients who have them.
In 1992, the Montana Office of Public Instruction contracted with the Montana Association of School Psychologists to draft diagnostic criteria for autism; Mark Taylor chaired the drafting committee, which included a leading pediatric neurologist and two very experienced neuropsychologists. The guidelines recommended by the committee reflected the best research and practices known at the time, but ultimately did not pass legal review by the Office of Public Instruction because they did not closely enough mirror the wording of Federal law regarding this diagnosis. Thus, we do have training and experience in working with students who have conditions in the autistic spectrum, and would be happy to work with families who want to try Fast ForWord for this sort of condition.
The information we have received with respect to cochlear implants (which were co-invented by Michael Merzenich, chief scientific officer of SLc), indicates that children who receive them can learn to use their new ability to hear much better when it is followed up with Fast ForWord. We are very interested in getting Fast ForWord to such clients.
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