The Sound Storm app helps children overcome Spatial Processing Disorder—a specific type of auditory processing disorder. SPD is defined as the inability to make sense of the direction a sound is coming from. For example, in a noisy environment (like a school classroom), sound comes from multiple directions. This can lead to confusion for a child when distinguishing or understanding a voice that is right in front of them. 

We designed the Sound Storm app to address these issues through fun, engaging activities. Learn more about Sound Storm and how parents and teachers can set their students up for success in overcoming SPD.

How Sound Storm Works

The Sound Storm app for iOS and Android helps children ages 6 to 12 learn to filter out non-essential sounds in a space fantasy role-playing game. As children travel through different worlds and achieve various objectives, they also train their brains to target speech, filter out background noise, and learn where sounds are coming from.

In the app, children listen to target sentences and simultaneous segments of two competing stories while wearing headphones. The target sentence sounds as if it’s coming from directly in front of them, while the competing stories come from the left and right sides. The objective is to identify a word in the target sentence and select from one of four gameplay icons that appear on the screen.

• If the child identifies the correct target word, the next target question decreases in volume, making the task harder.
• If the child selects the question mark, the volume increases for the repeat question. 
• If the child answers incorrectly, the volume increases to make things easier. 

Sound Storm’s 10-week program self-adapts based on each child’s progress, allowing teachers and parents to meet them where they are and continue to challenge them. Maintaining a challenging threshold is critical to auditory training to enhance the neural pathways dedicated to spatial processing.

Tips for Using Sound Storm Successfully

How your child uses the Sound Storm app can make all the difference in their outcomes. Here are some tips to help you help them get the most from the app.

Share the Benefits with Your Child

Sound Storm is 100% clinically proven to remediate SPD in school-aged children after completing the 10-week program. Help them put this into perspective—they will be able to hear better in the classroom and participate in group activities with friends. Knowing why they’re playing the game can help them take it more seriously and get excited about finishing it.

Set the Right Expectations

Children should play two games per day, five days per week to stay on track. Teach your child how to use the app by reviewing the gameplay icons and what to do. 

Establish a Routine

You’ll need about 30 minutes each day to complete two games. Make sure your child is in a quiet environment to avoid extra sounds. Find ways to build Sound Storm into your daily routine to make it easy to complete each day’s objectives.

Check Your Child’s Progress Regularly

Sound Storm offers progress reports so you can track your child’s improvements. In the progress report, incomplete games refer to any games that are exited before 40 sentences (one game) are completed. This indicates your child may be finding it hard to concentrate or focus, or they’re struggling and need additional support. 

Generally, the red line should trend upwards (above the blue line) and then plateau. A significant drop in the red line is a red flag.

Participate with Your Child

We strongly encourage you to sit with your child uninterrupted while they complete each day’s game. Provide them with lots of support, such as “You’re doing great, keep going!” and check the report at the end of each session with them. Explaining what the report results mean will encourage them to complete the next day’s session.

Share Headphones

It’s helpful to share audio with your child as they play. Use a headphone splitter to allow two users to use headphones, or share audio via Bluetooth with a second pair of wireless headphones. This is useful when your child is having difficulty staying on task and provides positive reinforcement when your child is doing well.

Take Breaks

If your child is getting frustrated or upset during a session, it’s OK to let them take a break for a few days. Then, start again once they’re in a better mindset.

Reward Your Child for a Job Well Done

The program features an in-game reward system, but external weekly and end-of-game rewards will further encourage your child to stick with the game. Reward charts are great tools that let children watch their own progress. For example, you might offer a reward after 50 games and another after 100 games.

Ensure Success with Sound Storm

Sound Storm trains the brain to listen and can make all the difference in your child’s education. Ensure success with Sound Storm—download the app today!