Age group for which this tool is beneficial:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

To what category does this tool belong?
Medium-tech tools (requires power supply and some training)

Skills strengthened with the help of this tool:
Academic

How does the tool work?
Variable speed tape recorder/players allow your child to individualize the listening experience to a small degree. These devices function like conventional taping machines to play books-on-tape or to play self-recorded materials like class lectures. Their added value comes from controls that allow your child to vary the speed and pitch of the audiotaped materials.

What is the benefit to the user?
Students with strong auditory processing skills can speed the playback rate in order to cover materials much more rapidly than when listening to conventional players. This helps these students keep up better with the fluent readers in the class.

Students with weak auditory processing skills can use the machines to slow the rate in order to comprehend the materials better. Recent research in how children learn phonics suggests that some children show significant advances in auditory comprehension, and therefore a better grasp of phonics, when the material is played back at a slower rate.

Other information to consider:
Many kids find they hear and comprehend materials better at a high pitch or a low pitch. These devices also may come with pitch controls to optimize this experience for the listener.

The devices are quite easy to learn to use, and, in fact, even young children may find them enjoyable to use.

The above content was researched and written by Frank Sopper.