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

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.

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;    means for generating a stimulus for the user for each training module, the stimulus comprising one or more 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 a verbal response from the user to 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 training 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 training 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 training modules further comprise a sound recall training module comprising 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.  
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the training modules further comprise a sound recall training module comprising means for presenting a series of sounds to the user, means for receiving a response from the user indicating the sounds and the order of presentation and means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.  
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the difficulty variables comprise a linguistic modifier that changes the instructions provided to the user so that the user's response is different from the original ordering and sequence of the sounds.  
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the training modules further comprise a sound detection training module comprising 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.  
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the training modules further comprise a sound detection training module comprising means for presenting a series of sounds to the user, means for receiving a response from the user indicating the sounds and the order of presentation and means for changing one or more difficulty variables of the task to change the difficulty of the task.  
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises a number of sounds presented to the user.  
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the training modules further comprise a sound detection training module comprising means for presenting a series of sounds to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating the number of sounds.  
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the training modules further comprise a sound detection training module comprising 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.  
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises a number of sounds presented to the user.  
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 11 , 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.  
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 11 , 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 the one or more sounds to the user and means for receiving a response from the user indicating the number and sequence of sounds in a word.  
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein the task further comprises means for changing the difficulty of the task by changing one or more difficulty variables.  
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the difficulty variable comprises the number of sounds presented to the user.  
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the difficulty variable comprises the availability of auditory feedback to the user.  
     
     
         21 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the difficulty variable comprises the syllable structure of the word.  
     
     
         22 . The tool of  claim 11 , 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.  
     
     
         23 . The tool of  claim 11 , 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  
     
     
         24 . The tool of  claim 23 , wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the amount of auditory feedback provided to the user.  
     
     
         25 . The tool of  claim 23 , 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.  
     
     
         26 . The tool of  claim 23 , wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the number of sounds presented to the user.  
     
     
         27 . 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.  
     
     
         28 . 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.  
     
     
         29 . The tool of  claim 28 , 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.  
     
     
         30 . The tool of  claim 28 , 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.  
     
     
         31 . The tool of  claim 30 , wherein the sound blending module further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables in order to change the difficulty of the task.  
     
     
         32 . The tool of  claim 31 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position of the omitted sound unit in the word.  
     
     
         33 . The tool of  claim 31 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the size of the sound units presented to the user.  
     
     
         34 . The tool of  claim 31 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the number of sound units presented to the user.  
     
     
         35 . The tool of  claim 31 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the syllable structure of the word.  
     
     
         36 . 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.  
     
     
         37 . 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.  
     
     
         38 . The tool of  claim 37  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.  
     
     
         39 . The tool of  claim 38 , 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.  
     
     
         40 . The tool of  claim 38 , wherein the difficulty changing means comprises means for changing the phonetic context of the sound.  
     
     
         41 . The tool of  claim 38 , 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.  
     
     
         42 . The tool of  claim 38 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the acoustic and perceptual difference between the sounds by acoustically modifying the sounds.  
     
     
         43 . The tool of  claim 37 , 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.  
     
     
         44 . The tool of  claim 43 , wherein the task further comprises means for changing one or more difficulty variables in order to change the difficulty of the task.  
     
     
         45 . The tool of  claim 44 , wherein the changing means comprises means for changing the acoustic and perceptual saliency of the word.  
     
     
         46 . 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.  
     
     
         47 . 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.  
     
     
         48 . 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.  
     
     
         49 . The tool of  claim 48 , 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.  
     
     
         50 . The tool of  claim 49 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the complexity of the target sound presented to the user.  
     
     
         51 . The tool of  claim 49 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position in the word of the target sound.  
     
     
         52 . The tool of  claim 49 , 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.  
     
     
         53 . 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.  
     
     
         54 . The tool of  claim 53 , 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.  
     
     
         55 . The tool of  claim 54 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the complexity of the target sound presented to the user.  
     
     
         56 . The tool of  claim 54 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position in the word of the target sound.  
     
     
         57 . The tool of  claim 54 , 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.  
     
     
         58 . The tool of  claim 54 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the syllable structure of the word.  
     
     
         59 . The tool of  claim 47 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the complexity of the target sound presented to the user.  
     
     
         60 . The tool of  claim 47 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the position in the word of the target sound.  
     
     
         61 . The tool of  claim 47 , 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.  
     
     
         62 . The tool of  claim 48 , wherein the difficulty changing means further comprises means for changing the amount of background noise presented between sound units.  
     
     
         63 . A method for training a user to discriminate a sound, comprising: 
 presenting a first and second sound to the user, each sound having a particular set of acoustic components that distinguish the two sounds;    altering an acoustic component of the first sound to be recognized by the user by a predetermined amount in order to make the sound more similar to the second sound so that the first sound is more difficult to distinguish from the second sound; and    continuing to alter the acoustic component of the first sound until the first and second sound are identical.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the acoustic component comprises a frequency component of the sound.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the frequency component comprises a first formant frequency.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the frequency component comprises a second formant frequency.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the acoustic component comprises the duration of the sound.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the duration of the sound comprises the voice onset time of the sound.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the acoustic component comprises the energy of the sound.  
     
     
         70 . A method for training a user to discriminate a sound, comprising: 
 selecting a phonetic class of sounds to be presented to the user to change the perceptual saliency of the sounds in order to change the difficulty of discriminating the sounds, wherein changing the ordering of the sounds is based on the inherent acoustic and phonetic properties of the sounds; and    presenting a first and second sound to the user from the phonetic class of sounds.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the phonetic class of sounds comprise one of vowels and consonants.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the phonetic class of sounds further comprise short vowels and long vowels wherein the long vowels have more saliency that the short vowels.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the phonetic class of sounds further comprise liquid consonants, stop consonants and nasal consonants wherein the liquid consonants are more salient than the stop consonants which are more salient than the nasal consonants.  
     
     
         74 . A method for training a user to discriminate a sound, comprising: 
 selecting the phonetic context of sounds to be presented to the user to change the perceptual saliency of the sounds in order to change the difficulty of discriminating the sounds wherein changing the ordering of the sounds is based on the phonetic context of the sounds; and    presenting a first and second sound to the user based on the selected phonetic context of the sounds.    
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the phonetic context comprises presenting the sound isolated from other sounds.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the phonetic context comprises presenting the sound in combination with another sound that makes it more difficult to perceive the sound.