Showing posts with label cause and effect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cause and effect. Show all posts

Monday, March 16, 2015

New and Notables: Speech and Language Therapy Apps




 
Junganew: A Herd of Sounds "S" by Junganew, LLC

Junganew: A Herd of Sounds "S" is a speech therapy app that introduces the /s/ and /z/ sound while also touching on oral motor, auditory comprehension and language skills.  For young children just getting acquainted with the /s/ and /z/, lovable characters help explain the sounds in an easy to understand way by referring to the /s/ sound as "Ms. Snake's sound'', sssss.  The z sound is taught as an s but with the throat making a buzz (Yes, the character is a bee!)  There are opportunities to hear and/or practice the sounds in isolation and in initial, medial and final positions.  S blends are also introduced. There are several fun activities and even a video recording feature using your built in iPad camera- the child can take turns with the characters practicing their sounds, to play back and watch as a video.  For kids that need the extra practice, this "Mirror Models" area can be accessed separately.  An extra bonus-  a "What Am I"? style guessing game where kids guess the s word being described and a "What's Missing?"game where the child is invited to search for a missing prop to compliment the persona shown on the screen.  There is also a balloon popping rhyming game , a cupcake decorating game, an /s/ vs. /sh/ auditory discrimination game, and our personal favorite, the S blend cookie maker where kids can combine the s sound with a second sound (sk, sp, sw, sn, sm) to create a cookie to munch on- all of course focusing on the s sound.



Counting Songs 1 and Counting Songs 2 by Inclusive Technology Ltd ($26.99 for the Counting Song app sets (10 songs each) or $2.99 each song app)





For students with complex needs, these sets of simple animated counting song apps with printable lyrics  offered by Inclusive Technology Ltd. are engaging, switch-accessible, and have a consistent pattern- perfect for those learning cause and effect, those working on beginning counting (count from 1 to 5 or in a select few songs count down from 5 to 1), or those working on switch activation skills. There are different play options as well-you can choose to have the song play through, one verse at a time, or have counting occur before each verse, or the child can count the number before each verse.  Counting activities for each song can be set to count to 5, or to count to only 3.

There are also adjustable switch/ scan settings as well.  If you are working in a school setting and want access to a variety of songs, Counting Songs 1 and Counting Songs 2 bundle up all of their counting song apps available into two sets, with 10 songs included in each set.  You can also purchase the individual song apps for $2.99 each but from what I gather of the two single song apps I own, they do not include the printable lyrics as the sets do.  With 20 different "themes" to pick from, it certainly is fun to occasionally match up a song to go with the theme of the month in my students' classrooms.

When a student is so motivated by these apps that he demonstrates a new skill of navigating through 4 layers of an AAC app to say "I want + to play + iPad + Five Little Aliens app'' that is what I call determination! I hope one of the many song apps available strikes a similar chord in your household or classroom!











iSequences by Fundaciรณn Planeta Imaginario ($3.99)   UPDATE!  Read the full review HERE

Created with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome individuals in mind, iSequences can be used to work on sequencing skills, predicting what happens next, and recognition of emotions. It can also be used to practice using the past tense, or working on concepts like he/she. There is a lot you can do with it, and it comes with a large number of card sets. I like how you can choose exactly which ones you want to work on.  The fact that the app is multilingual is another added bonus too.  iSequences just got even better with the added ability to include custom sequences using your own photos- currently you can add 3 or 4 part custom sequences, and specify a "what happens next" image as well. I am hoping a future update will allow us to record voice over for the title of each sequence to match the function of the original sets included in the app. (There is also an iSequences app on Google Play for $3.75, but it does not yet have this newest addition of customized sequences.)




Tuesday, August 28, 2012

SASK Cause & Effect Apps




Cause &Effect Apps
This list is not exhaustive. It is a collection of apps that have been used by or made available to my own children and/or students.  These are available for trialing through the Loan Device Library. It is also a work in progress and may be edited frequently as categories are expanded upon, or descriptions and/ or new apps are added.
Some apps have been marked iPhone- I tried to do this for all apps but have likely missed some. These will still work on an iPod touch or iPad. On an iPad you will have to tap the 2x symbol in the corner of the screen to zoom in to the size of the iPad screen. Sometimes text or images are not as crisp in this mode, but all apps marked iPhone should run on iPad. However, apps marked iPad will not work on an iPhone or iPod. If an app is not marked iPhone or iPad, it is universal and can be run on both without losing screen quality.
See also SENSORY Lights & Sounds Apps


(Basic)

Vocalize/Speak to create sound and/or action:
Magic Voice * by Synapse Apps, LLC (FREE with in-app purchase)
Party Blowouts * by Drukka hu. Kft.
Butterflies - iBlower (more options from the same developer below:) * SASK FAVORITE*
Bugs - iBlower ; Magic Lucky Charms - iBlower ; Lucky Horse Shoes - iBlower ; Hearts - iBlower
Stars - iBlower ; Christmas Cookies - iBlower ; Animals - iBlower ; Magic Halloween- iBlower ; Fruits and Vegetables- iBlower ; Alphabet- iBlower ; Clouds- iBlower ; Numbers - iBlower; Faces - iBlower ; FireBall - iBlower ; Leaves - iBlower ; Euro Coins - iBlower
Quiet Please (you can program your own recordings to be activated)
Waves by Aestesis LLC
Bla Bla Bla
Sensory Speak Up Too- speech therapy fun effects- one of many FREE apps from Sensory Apps Ltd.

(There are also quite a few free w/ in app "talking" apps such as Talking Tom, Gina the Giraffe etc.)

Touch anywhere on screen to create sound and/or action:
w/ any touch:
Colorful Rotating Bear... by Naomi Izumizaki
Random Touch
Broom-Broom for iPad* by Atech inc. (has ads, can remove w/ in-app purchase. Touch the screen and a roadway and moving vehicles will follow the roadway, making vehicle noises. )
Let's play with trains! for iPad* by Atech inc. (has ads, can remove w/ in-app purchase)
Touch and Born! Moving paint for iPad* by Atech inc. (has ads, can remove w/ in-app purchase)
First Colors * by Michael Irlam (When you touch the screen it changes color; a color label is displayed and the color name is spoken. Sounds and Word Labels can be shut off.)
First Alphabet * by Michael Irlam
First Numbers * by Michael Irlam
Butterflies - iBlower ( touching the screen will cause a butterfly/butterflies to appear and move across the screen, then fade away. These have ads- at least the free ones do- you can put your iPad in airplane mode to disable ads temporarily; Options from the same developer below:)
Bugs - iBlower ; Magic Lucky Charms - iBlower ; Lucky Horse Shoes - iBlower ; Hearts - iBlower
Stars - iBlower ; Christmas Cookies - iBlower ; Animals - iBlower ; Magic Halloween- iBlower ; Fruits and Vegetables- iBlower ; Alphabet- iBlower ; Clouds- iBlower ; Numbers - iBlower; Faces - iBlower ; FireBall - iBlower ; Leaves - iBlower ; Euro Coins - iBlower

Sensory Coloco- Symmetry Painting and Visual Effects -one of many FREE apps from Sensory Apps Ltd.
Finger Paint with Sounds by Inclusive Technology Ltd.

Musical Paint Pro by Building Blocks Media (touch the screen to paint with color and sound simultaneously- controls to change thickness and color shade)


RadSounds Lite* By RJ Cooper & Associates (comes with one song- free w/ $4.99 in-app purchase to use additional songs, record or import custom music; SWITCH ACCESSIBLE- can set it to respond only when screen is touched, or for a set number of seconds after user releases switch or lets go of screen - switch not required to use)

RadSounds (see above, full version)

For additional switch accesible games & products, see here: http://pinterest.com/lasenders/switch-accessible-apps-and-ipad-compatible-switch-/

Select object(s) on screen to create sound and/or action:
w/any touch ( tap, mulitple fingers):
Touch Trainer by Touch Autism (set to 'Any Touch'; begins as 1 large screen to activate, challenge increases with play, including buttons in new locations, field of 3, field of 6. There is no "wrong" choice as the field of choices increases- as long as a button is selected, the user will be rewarded with a corresponding sound/movement)

Smart Tot Rattle (3 identical objects of different colors, touch any of the three objects to activate sound. Dragging action will create movement.)
Beautiful Bubbles by Joe Scrivens (set to Free Mode -user pops 10 bubbles of different colors and sizes; set to challenge mode to pop many bubbles of different colors and sizes)

Marcus' Discoveries HD (iPhone version also available. Field of 20. 20 images are presented. Tap an image to enlarge it, a corresponding sound is activated.)


(With Additional Challenge)
These may require an additional visual or motoric challenge, or knowledge of a concept such as "touch same" "touch different" "touch the empty space" or early theory of mind- what is so and so thinking or needing?

w/finger isolation:
Touch Trainer by Touch Autism (set to 'Only Distinct Taps'; begins as 1 large screen to activate, challenge increases with play, including buttons in new locations, field of 3, field of 6. There is no "wrong" choice as the field of choices increases- as long as a button is selected, the user will be rewarded with a corresponding sound/movement.)
Slide & Spin by MyFirstApp.com (some of the buttons require finger isolation to activate image/sound)

Trace a path from one object to another to make sound and/or action:
w/swipe:
BrushRoute by Wandering Dolphins
Injini Child Development Game Suite by NCsoft (Tracing activity, challenge increases with play)
Dot Collector by Ellie's Games, LLC (starts w/ one dot to drag to hole, number of dots increases with play)
Slide & Spin by MyFirstApp.com (some of the buttons require dragging/sliding to activate image/sound)

Touch an object, then distinguish among remaining objects to touch to make sound and/or action:
w/any touch (tap, multiple fingers):
Color Squares by Ellie' Games, LLC (tap any square to change its color, then tap all remaining squares until all squares have merged into a large rectangle of the same color- challenge increases with play)
Injini Child Development Game Suite by NCsoft (Farm- Chicks. tap the eggs until the chick inside has hatched, then tap another egg to do the same etc.)
(Farm- Horses. tap the trough to feed a horse. Must use visual & auditory cues horses give -snorting, whinnying, hearts in horses' eyes- to determine if a horse needs hay or is full.)

Touch an empty location on a screen to make sound and/or action:
w/any touch (tap, multiple fingers, swipe):
Baby Discover Images by Richard Hatch
(Touch a blank spot on the screen to reveal a portion of its hidden image. User must select a new, blank spot to uncover more of the hidden image, until finally the whole image is uncovered, and a sound is made. If an already touched spot is touched again, the screen will sparkle in that spot, but the image will remain unchanged. If you don't do anything, the screen will display the uncovered image and make a sound after about 5 seconds. Sounds and sparkles can be shut off through Settings on the iPad.)

TickleMe Animals (iPhone; Touch a spot on the screen to reveal a portion of its hidden image. User must select a new, blank spot to uncover more of the hidden image, until finally the whole image is uncovered.  When the image is uncovered, the title of the picture is voiced and shown on the screen.)