What:
A Cognitive Assistive Tool for Holistic Skill Development.
What are the Focus and Peripheral Wands?
The Focus and Peripheral Wands are cognitive assistive tools designed to enhance reading skills and support holistic skill development in neurodivergent individuals, such as those with ADHD, Dyslexia, and Autism. Through visual and tactile enhancements, these tools help improve focus, comprehension, and engagement.
What makes the Focus Wand unique?
The Focus Wand is designed to reduce visual strain and facilitate precise word recognition, making it ideal for individuals who vocalize/subvocalize and those with dyslexia. It enhances visual motor processing, promotes fluid eye movements, and improves stability, which is crucial for overcoming visual discrimination challenges common in ADHD.
What makes the Peripheral Wand unique?
The Peripheral Wand expands the field of vision, allowing users to process text in larger chunks, significantly improving reading speed and retention. It is particularly beneficial for those aiming for academic or professional efficiency and helps reduce cognitive load by training peripheral vision.
What brain functions and regions are involved in reading that these wands support?
Visual Processing (Occipital Lobe): Recognises and interprets visual information.
Focus Wand: Enhances visual focus and reduces strain, improving word recognition.
Peripheral Wand: Trains peripheral vision, aiding in the recognition of larger chunks of text.
Language Processing (Frontal and Temporal Lobes): Involves areas like Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas.
Focus Wand: Provides visual and cognitive cues that can assist in understanding and producing language.
Peripheral Wand: Facilitates smoother reading and comprehension, indirectly supporting language processing.
Phonological Processing (Temporal and Parietal Lobes): Recognises and manipulates sounds of language.
Focus Wand: Supports phonological processing through enhanced visual tracking and decoding assistance.
Peripheral Wand: Improves the ability to see and process word groups, aiding phonological awareness.
Working Memory (Prefrontal Cortex): Holds and manipulates information temporarily.
Focus Wand: Improves comprehension by managing reading speed and reducing cognitive load.
Peripheral Wand: Trains peripheral vision to see larger text chunks, reducing cognitive load and aiding memory retention.
Executive Functions (Prefrontal Cortex): Involves planning, organising, and regulating behaviour.
Focus Wand: Supports organisation and sustained attention during reading.
Peripheral Wand: Facilitates structured reading practices, improving focus and organisation.
Word Recognition (Occipitotemporal Cortex, Fusiform Gyrus): Identifies words quickly and automatically.
Focus Wand: Enhances word recognition through visual tracking and focus.
Peripheral Wand: Trains peripheral vision to recognise larger text chunks, aiding in automaticity.
What physiological and psychological benefits do these wands offer?
Physiological:
Nervous System (Autonomic Nervous System): Reduces stress and anxiety by providing a structured reading approach.
Sensory Systems (Visual, Tactile): Enhances visual focus and provides tactile feedback, improving visual processing and engagement.
Psychological:
Confidence and Self-Efficacy: By making reading easier and more successful, both wands boost confidence and self-efficacy.
Self-Awareness: Provides consistent feedback and structured reading techniques, supporting self-monitoring.
Emotional Well-Being: Reduces cognitive and visual stress, promoting positive reading experiences and emotional well-being.
What specific challenges do the Focus and Peripheral Wands address for neurodivergent conditions like ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia?
ADHD:
Focus Wand: Enhances visual tracking, reduces distractions, and improves focus.
Peripheral Wand: Trains peripheral vision, reducing cognitive load and improving engagement.
Autism:
Focus Wand: Supports structured and repetitive reading routines, enhancing comprehension.
Peripheral Wand: Aids in visual processing and peripheral awareness, facilitating smoother reading.
Dyslexia:
Focus Wand: Provides visual and cognitive cues to support decoding and word recognition.
Peripheral Wand: Enhances visual tracking and processing speed, reducing reading fatigue.
What are the advanced features of the green tracking tips used in the wands?
General Benefits: Reduces stress, increases engagement, and supports neurodivergent individuals by enhancing reading fluency, comprehension, and retention.
Specific Benefits:
For ADHD: Helps maintain focus and reduce distractions.
For Autism: Provides calming effects and reduces sensory overload.
For Dyslexia: Enhances visual processing and decoding skills.
What is the role of multisensory integration in these wands?
Both wands engage visual, tactile, and cognitive systems, providing a comprehensive sensory experience that improves engagement and motivation. They facilitate sensory integration through visual and tactile cues, enhancing reading engagement and reducing cognitive load.
How do the Focus and Peripheral Wands support holistic development?
The wands encourage consistent use, promoting the development of positive reading habits and integrating sensory and cognitive development strategies. They cater to sensory needs, enhancing fine motor skills and coordination, and reducing cognitive overload through ergonomic design.