Every month the girls go to a baking club. They plan out what they are going to make, cook it, and then write a presentation on some aspect of their theme for the month. Both girls have a bit of a lisp, but I hadn't realized just how tongue-tied Jo-Jo could be until she would give her speeches. It seemed like she just didn't know where to put her tongue. I began trying to figure out how I could help her correct where her trouble spots were and show her how to correct her mistakes. And then the Schoolhouse Review Crew came to the rescue. Forbrain – Sound For Life Ltd was on our vendor list. When I went to their website, I became intrigued by the Forbrain bone conduction headset.
The Forbrain headset allows you to improve how you perceive your own voice. As you speak through the microphone, your voice is processed through a filter and transmits to your brain through the bone in front of your ears. This allows you to hear how you actually sound.
It can be used for improvement of vocal quality in a variety of ways:
- reading comprehension
- writing
- verbal memory
- short-term memory
- attention to tasks
- concentration
- speech
- pronunciation
- fluency
- voice quality
You can sing aloud, read poetry, work on reading with punctuation, exaggerate sounds as you read, change the volume while you read, memorize text, use character voices, read with your child as they read, do an echo, and read aloud from texts. The possibilities are really rather endless. You could use Bible memory verses, read from any number of texts (poetry, Bible, history, science, even math), do spelling or phonics exercises, practice foreign languages, practice singing, do recitations, prepare for presentations, the sky is really the limit.
It is recommended for people to use the headset for 6-10 weeks. It can be used for all ages. Different times are suggested for different ages and purposes.
- Under 4: 10 minutes a day
- Kids 5-15: 15 minutes a day
- Teenager and adult: 20 minutes a day
- Seniors: 30 minutes a day
- Intensive (to prepare for specific presentations or texts): 20 minutes 3 times a day
We noted early on that it is not recommended to be used more than an hour a day.
Next we talked about the proper body posture recommended, how to place the headset behind the head and loop it in front of the ears (not in it), and how to turn it off and on using the button on the headset. Then we were all ready to begin.
The very first time Jo-Jo tried out the headset, she said,"Mom! When I say S, it sounds fuzzy." So we talked about how her brain was recognizing that the s sound was not coming out right. My eldest also shouted across the room, "That's how your s sounds to us!"
She would use the set for about 20-30 minutes everyday, while reading out loud some of her school books.
After three days of using the headset, the girls had presentations. I was interested to hear how Jo-Jo would do. Since it had only been a handful of days, I didn't expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised. She had much less trouble speaking in front of the group.
After several weeks of using the head set, Jo-Jo has improved. She is doing better at articulating her words and her pronunciation and lisp is definitely less. We plan to continue into the additional 10 weeks.
And the girls are starting voice lessons soon and I'd like to try this with their practice times.
And when the girls have specific presentations or speeches, I am going to have them practice while using the head set.
:) We are very excited to see the benefits of using the headset.
Wishing you homeschool blessings,
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