By Catherine Kalchbrenner

Ipads and other tablets have become an everyday household device. With prudent selection of appropriate apps, they can be a useful tool to support learning in our children but, unguided, they can be little more than a distraction device. I wanted to make screen time more meaningful than random games for my hard of hearing child. With this in mind, I set to researching apps that could build my child’s vocabulary and exercise her auditory memory.

I came across a great resource from the Alexander Bell Convention in 2014. As well as some great suggestions for apps, it offers detailed information and advice. Encouragingly, it reports research results that literacy apps can augment literacy development in children. While the presentation is geared towards professionals, as a parent of a hard of hearing child, I found it really insightful.

NOTE- The following link is unfortunately no longer active.
http://www.agbell.org/uploadedFiles/Connect/Meetings/2014_Convention/Hands-On%20Apps%20and%20the%20iPad.pdf

What it lacked, however, was links to the suggested apps in the apple store or clear icon pictures to be sure of the app in question. With full credit going to the presenters at the Convention, I expanded the list to make this go-to menu of apps. I hope it will be a useful tool for parents and professionals alike.

Speech:

Articulation Station- Little Bee Speech
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/articulation-station/id467415882?mt=8

Articulation Scenes
by Smarty Ears
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/articulation-scenes/id498857302?mt=8

ArtikPix- Expressive Solutions
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/artikpix/id383022107?mt=8

SpeechBox for Articulation Speech Therapy- By Jonah Bonah Learning LLC
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speechbox-for-speech-therapy/id568581305

Artic Practice- Learning Fundamentals Inc
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/artic-practice/id520874877?mt=8

Pocket Artic- Synapse Apps
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/pocket-artic/id359179209?mt=8

Auditory Skill Development

Hear Coach- Starkey
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/hear-coach/id489515928?mt=8

My Playhome- Playhome Software ltd
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/my-playhome-lite/id451155849?mt=8

My Scene- MyFirstApp
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/my-scene/id421838043?mt=8

Auditory Workout
Outdoor Fun
Both By Virtual Speech Centre Inc.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/auditory-workout/id518697520?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/outdoor-fun/id492097086?mt=8

My Tiny Farm Animals- Toddler’s Seek & Find Activity Book for Kids
My Little Town- Toddler’s Seek & Find Activity Book for Kids
Both by wonderkind GmbH
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/my-tiny-farm-animals-toddlers/id987463825?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/my-little-town-toddlers-seek/id490922806?mt=8

Fun with Directions HD Lite- Hamaguchi Apps for Speech, Language & Auditory Development
There are a couple of versions of this App.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/fun-with-directions-hd-lite/id478249055?mt=8