We recently purchased the Brainbuilder software, to enhance visual and auditory sequential processing for my 8.5 y/o dd. My question is: Has anyone worked with this? The instructions do not tell you how often to do it, nor for what period of time. Also, for Auditory Reverse and Visual Reverse, is it ok for the child to type in the number as it is called out, and then type it in backwards. Or is it important to force them to think about how the number would look backwards, without typing it?
Thanks, Nancy D
Re: Brainbuilder software
I agree with Anon. This program is narrowly focussed and is also deadly dull, even in short spurts. My son disliked it, and as we had just finished FastForWord when we tried it I did not persevere with it to the point where he ever saw progress and would be motivated by that. In fact I’m not sure that point would have arrived. Perhaps your child will respond differently though.
We are next going to do BrainSkills, a broader based pgm. like those mentioned by Anon (a home version of PACE). It addresses auditory and visual memory but other areas of deficit as well. As an experiment, we may revisit BrainBuilder once after doing BrainSkills to see if it is easier at that point.
I would recommend BrainBuilder only for a motivated teen or adult who does not need a broader-based program. There are parts of other, more child-friendly programs that address auditory memory for number series—Earobics 2 is one I’m aware of. I’m not sure what’s out there for visual memory.
visual memory cd-rom
Hi All,
There is a cd-rom out there for visual memory. It is from the Critical THinking Company. Here is the link
Memory Challenge
http://www.brightminds.us/getProductDetails.do?code=h&id=09410
Joan
Brainbuilder software
Usually you use it for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Ten minutes twice a day is probably more effective than 20 minutes once a day. The user should not type in the numbers as they are called out before reversing them unless there is no other way he/she can do it at the lowest level. If you really want to develop sequential processing, I would recommend Audiblox (http://www.audiblox2000.com), BrainSkills (http://www.brainskills.com), PACE (http://www.processingskills.com) or LearningRx (http://www.learningrx.com) over the Brainbuilder software. One problem with Brainbuilder is that the exercises become extremely boring, so it is hard to stick with the program. The other problem is that it is working on a very narrow range of skills that may not generalize outside of the exercise situation. The other programs I listed all work on a wide variety of cognitive skills which tend to reinforce each other. For this reason, you tend to get much more significant gains from them. However, all of these programs require one-on-one work. They are not done on the computer.
We used Brainbuilder for awhile. I think somewhere in the documentation it recommends 10 minutes twice a day. An 8yo would normally require a parent sitting nearby for support.
For the reverse exercises, normally you would hold the numbers in memory before typing them in backwards. If your child can’t do that, it would be okay to have him type the numbers as called first (provided the program doesn’t consider this a wrong answer — I never tried it). This gives him a kinesthetic memory cue, and kinesthetic memory is the last to fade. You would probably have difficulty switching him to memory mode later, unless he leaves the program for 6 months or a year and then starts over with new scores, as he would object to falling back.
Brainbuilder was too narrowly focused for us. I think it is best for kids with severe issues who really need this kind of narrowly focused exercise. A program such as Audiblox works on a much broader set of skills and includes exercises that expand sequencing and short-term memory skills. For effort expended, Audiblox would likely provide much more significant gains than Brainbuilder because it is much more broadly based. At least, that was our experience.