Phonological awareness, phonological processing, and reading skill training system and method

• US 6,511,324 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. (Private Equity))
• Original Assignee: Cognitive Concepts, Inc. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. (Private Equity))
• Inventors: Wasowicz, Janet M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, KATHLEEN MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US09/414,393
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 434/156, 434/185, 434/157, 434/169, 434/167, 434/322, 434/323, 434/307.R
• US Class Current: 434/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/006 with audible presentation of the material to be studied audio and audio-visual teaching apparatus in general G09B5/04, G09B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A training tool for training and assessing one or more auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills of an individual is provided. The training tool may use various graphical games to train the individual'"'"'s ability in a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills. The system may use speech recognition technology to permit the user to interact with the games.

Claims

1. A tool for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, comprising:

one or more training modules that train a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, the training modules further comprises a sound detection training module including means for presenting a series of sounds to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating the sounds and the order of presentation;

means for generating a stimulus for the user for each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

means for receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the receiving means further comprises a speech recognition device for receiving and interpreting a verbal response from the user to a question posed by the one or more modules.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the one or more training modules each comprise one or more tasks that train different auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein each training module further comprises means for changing a difficulty variable of each task in the module in order to change the difficulty of the task.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for increasing the difficulty of the task when a first predetermined number of responses from the user are correct and means for decreasing the difficulty of the task when a second predetermined number of responses are incorrect.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for increasing the difficulty of the task when a first predetermined number of consecutive responses from the user are correct and means for decreasing the difficulty of the task when a second predetermined number of consecutive responses are incorrect, the second predetermined number being less than the first predetermined number.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the sound detection training module further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises a number of sounds presented to the user.

9. The tool of claim 7, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the syllable structure of a word presented to the user, the syllable structure including one or more vowels and one or more consonants in a predetermined order.

10. The tool of claim 7, wherein the sound detection training module further comprises a task requiring the user to identify the number and sequence of sounds in a word comprising means for presenting, in sequence, the one or more sounds in a word to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating the number and sequence of sounds in a word.

11. The tool of claim 10 wherein the task further comprises means for changing the difficulty of the task by changing one or more difficulty variables.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the difficulty variable comprises the number of sounds presented to the user.

13. The tool of claim 11, wherein the difficulty variable comprises the availability of auditory feedback to the user.

14. The tool of claim 11, wherein the difficulty variable comprises the syllable structure of the word.

15. The tool of claim 7, wherein the sound detection training module further comprises a task requiring the user to manipulate one or more sounds to form a new word from the one or more sounds comprising means for presenting the one or more sounds and means for receiving a response from the user with the new word from the one or more sounds.

16. The tool of claim 7, wherein the sound detection training module further comprises a task requiring the user to manipulate one or more sounds to form a new word from the one or more sounds comprising means for presenting the one or more sounds, means for receiving a response from the user with the new word from the one or more sounds and means for changing the difficulty of the task.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the amount of auditory feedback provided to the user.

18. The tool of claim 16, wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the type of sound manipulation to be performed by the user, the sounds manipulation including one of re-arranging phonemes, deleting a phoneme, replacing a phoneme and inserting a phoneme.

19. The tool of claim 16, wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the number of sounds presented to the user.

20. The tool of claim 1, wherein the training modules further comprise a sound blending training module comprising means for presenting a series of sound units to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating the word formed by the sounds units.

21. The tool of claim 1, wherein the training modules further comprise a sound blending training module comprising means for presenting a series of sound units to the user, means for receiving a response from the user indicating the word formed by the sounds units and means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

22. The tool of claim 21, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the syllable structure of a word presented to the user, the syllable structure including one or more vowels and one or more consonants in a predetermined order.

23. The tool of claim 21, wherein the sound blending training module further comprises means for omitting a sound unit from a word wherein the user must recognize the word without the omitted sound unit.

24. The tool of claim 23, wherein the sound blending module further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables in order to change the difficulty of the task.

25. The tool of claim 24, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position of the omitted sound unit in the word.

26. The tool of claim 24, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the size of the sound units presented to the user.

27. The tool of claim 24, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the number of sound units presented to the user.

28. The tool of claim 24, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the syllable structure of the word.

29. The tool of claim 1, wherein the training modules further comprise a sound identification training module comprising means for repeatedly presenting a series of sounds to the user, the sounds changing at a predetermined time and means for receiving a response from the user indicating when the sound changed.

30. The tool of claim 1, wherein the training modules further comprise a sound identification training module comprising means for repeatedly presenting the same sound, means for presenting a different sound and means for receiving a response from the user indicating when the user heard the different sound.

31. The tool of claim 30 wherein the sound identification training module further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

32. The tool of claim 31, wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the perceptual saliency of the sound by ordering the sounds based on their inherent acoustic and phonetic properties.

33. The tool of claim 31, wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the phonetic context of the sound.

34. The tool of claim 31, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing types of the sounds presented to the user, the types of sounds including vowels and consonants.

35. The tool of claim 31, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the acoustic and perceptual difference between the sounds by acoustically modifying the sounds.

36. The tool of claim 30, wherein the sound identification training module further comprises a task requiring the user to identify a target sound in a word further comprising means for presenting a target sound to the user, means for presenting a series of words to the user and means for receiving a response from the user when the user hears the word containing the target sound.

37. The tool of claim 36, wherein the task further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables in order to change the difficulty of the task.

38. The tool of claim 37, wherein the changing means comprises means for changing the acoustic and perceptual saliency of the word.

39. The tool of claim 1, wherein the training modules further comprise a sound pattern recognition training module comprising means for presenting a target sound to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating that the user hears a word with the target sound.

40. The tool of claim 1, wherein the training modules further comprise a sound pattern recognition training module comprising means for presenting a target sound to the user, means for receiving a response from the user indicating that the user hears a word with the target sound and means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

41. The tool of claim 40, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the complexity of the target sound presented to the user.

42. The tool of claim 40, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position in the word of the target sound.

43. The tool of claim 40, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the perceptual saliency of the target sound by ordering the sounds based on their inherent acoustic and phonetic properties.

44. The tool of claim 1, wherein the one or more training modules further comprise a sound pattern recognition training module further comprising means for presenting one or more target sounds to the user and means for receiving a response from the user blending the one or more sounds into a word.

45. The tool of claim 44, wherein the sound pattern recognition training further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

46. The tool of claim 45, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the complexity of the target sound presented to the user.

47. The tool of claim 45, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position in the word of the target sound.

48. The tool of claim 45, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the perceptual saliency of the target sound by ordering the sounds based on their inherent acoustic and phonetic properties.

49. The tool of claim 44, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the amount of background noise presented between sound units.

50. The tool of claim 1, wherein the one or more training modules further comprise a sound pattern recognition training module further comprising means for presenting one or more target sounds to the user and means for receiving a response from the user manipulating the one or more sounds into a new word.

51. The tool of claim 50, wherein the sound pattern recognition training further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

52. The tool of claim 51, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the complexity of the target sound presented to the user.

53. The tool of claim 51, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position in the word of the target sound.

54. The tool of claim 51, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the perceptual saliency of the target sound by ordering the sounds based on their inherent acoustic and phonetic properties.

55. The tool of claim 51, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the syllable structure of the word.

56. A method for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, the method comprising:

providing one or more training modules wherein each module trains a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, wherein providing the training modules further comprises the step of providing a sound detection training module comprising including the step of presenting a series of sounds to the user and receiving a response from the user indicating the sounds and the order of presentation;

generating a stimulus in each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving a verbal response using a speech recognition device from the user to the one or more modules.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein providing one or more training modules further comprises providing one or more tasks for each training module that train different auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising changing a difficulty variable of each task in the module in order to change the difficulty of the task.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the difficulty changing further comprises increasing the difficulty of the task when a first predetermined number of responses from the user are correct and decreasing the difficulty of the task when a second predetermined number of responses are incorrect.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the difficulty changing further comprises increasing the difficulty of the task when a first predetermined number of consecutive responses from the user are correct and decreasing the difficulty of the task when a second predetermined number of consecutive responses are incorrect, the second predetermined number being less than the first predetermined number.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein providing the training modules further comprises providing a sound detection training module further comprising changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the difficulty changing further comprises changing the number of sounds presented to the user.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the difficulty changing further comprises changing the syllable structure of a word presented to the user, the syllable structure including one or more vowels and one or more consonants in a predetermined order.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the sound detection training module further comprises requiring the user in a task to identify the number and sequence of sounds in a word comprising presenting, in sequence, the one or more sounds in a word to the user and receiving a response from the user indicating the number and sequence of sounds in the word.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising changing the difficulty of the task by changing one or more difficulty variables.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein changing the difficulty variable comprises changing the number of sounds presented to the user.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein changing the difficulty variable comprises changing the availability of auditory feedback to the user.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein changing the difficulty variable comprises changing the syllable structure of the word.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein providing the sound detection training module further comprises requiring the user in a task to manipulate one or more sounds to form a new word from the one or more sounds comprising presenting the one or more sounds and receiving a response from the user with the new word from the one or more sounds.

71. The method of claim 62, wherein providing the sound detection training module further comprises requiring the user in a task to manipulate one or more sounds to form a new word from the one or more sounds comprising presenting the one or more sounds, receiving a response from the user with the new word from the one or more sounds and changing the difficulty of the task.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein changing the difficulty comprises changing the amount of auditory feedback provided to the user.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the difficulty changing comprises changing the type of sound manipulation to be performed by the user, the sounds manipulation including one of re-arranging phonemes, deleting a phoneme, replacing a phoneme and inserting a phoneme.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the difficulty changing comprises changing the number of sounds presented to the user.

75. A tool for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, comprising:

one or more training modules that train a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, the training modules further comprises a sound detection training module including means for presenting a series of sounds to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating the number of sounds;

means for generating a stimulus for the user for each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

means for receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

76. A tool for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, comprising:

one or more training modules that train a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, the training modules further comprises a sound detection training module including means for presenting a series of sounds to the user, means for receiving a response from the user indicating the number of sounds and means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task;

means for generating a stimulus for the user for each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

means for receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

77. The tool of claim 76, wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises a number of sounds presented to the user.

78. A method for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, the method comprising:

providing one or more training modules wherein each module trains a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, wherein providing the training modules further comprises the step of providing a sound detection training module comprising including the step of presenting a series of sounds to the user and receiving a response from the user indicating the number of sounds;

generating a stimulus in each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

79. A method for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, the method comprising:

providing one or more training modules wherein each module trains a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, wherein providing the training modules further comprises the step of providing a sound detection training module comprising including the step of presenting a series of sounds to the user, receiving a response from the user indicating the number of sounds and changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task;

generating a stimulus in each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the difficulty changing further comprises changing a number of sounds presented to the user.

81. A method for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, the method comprising:

providing one or more training modules wherein each module trains a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, wherein the set of skills further comprises auditory attention, short term memory, figure-ground discrimination and sequential memory, temporal processing, pattern recognition, phoneme sequencing, phonological segmentation and phonological manipulation;

generating a stimulus in each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.

82. A tool for training one or more skills associated with the reading skills of an individual, comprising:

one or more training modules that train a particular set of auditory processing, phonological awareness, phonological processing and reading skills so that the user'"'"'s skills at the set of skills improves, wherein the set of skills further comprises auditory attention, short term memory, figure-ground discrimination and sequential memory, temporal processing, pattern recognition, phoneme sequencing, phonological segmentation and phonological manipulation;

means for generating a stimulus for the user for each training module, the stimulus comprising at least one of a graphical image and an audible sound; and

means for receiving a user response to one of the graphical images and audible sound presented by each module.