Program Information

Developer and contact

Fast ForWord^® was designed by university-based scientists, Drs. Merzenich, Jenkins, Tallal, Miller, and Mann, all of whom have expertise in the areas of brain plasticity, cognitive development, and reading instruction. Fast ForWord^® is produced and distributed by the Scientific Learning Corporation, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612-2040. Email: customerservices@scilearn.com. Web: http://www.scilearn.com. Telephone: (888) 665-9707. Fax: (510) 444-3580. The program can be purchased from local Fast ForWord^® providers who are listed in the searchable database on the Scientific Learning Corporation website.

Scope of use

Fast ForWord^® products entered the market with Fast ForWord^® Language in 1997 and Fast ForWord^® to Reading (also known as Fast ForWord^® Reading) in 2000.⁹ Fast ForWord^® products have been used by students struggling with reading, language, and learning problems, as well as with the general K–12 student population across the United States. Overall, Fast ForWord^® has been used by more than 570,000 students in more than 3,700 schools nationwide.

Teaching

The Fast ForWord^® Language, Fast ForWord^® to Reading, and Fast ForWord^® Literacy computer software uses exercises that aim to develop the cognitive processes necessary for reading. Fast ForWord^® Language intends to build cognitive skills of memory, attention, processing, and sequencing, as well as language and reading skills, such as listening accuracy, phonological awareness, and language structures. Fast ForWord^® to Reading aims to further improve cognitive and reading skills through exercises focused on sound–letter associations, phonological awareness, word recognition, knowledge of English language conventions, vocabulary, and comprehension. Fast ForWord^® Literacy intends to improve students’ skills in the areas of listening accuracy, phonological awareness, language structures, processing efficiency, memory, concentration, comprehension, and sequencing. As students listen through headphones and respond using the mouse, the software adapts to individual students’ responses, adjusting the content and difficulty of items presented so that the student responds correctly approximately 80% of the time. The developer suggests multiple options for using the program, ranging from 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for 12 to 16 weeks, to 90 to 100 minutes a day, five days a week, for 4 to 8 weeks. All children start at the same basic level and progress individually as they attain proficiency.

Cost

A single license for Fast ForWord^® Language is $900, with discounts available for multiple licenses. Each license for Fast ForWord^® to Reading is $500, with no quantity discount.