Cochlear Implant Resources

• AngelSound
  Angel Sound is a free download (for PCs). It is worth the time to download as it has many modules that would be of interest for all levels of hearing perception. The interface is clean, and the recordings are professional quality. Beginners can go to the basic module and work on the vowel recognition section. Music is represented in the music appreciation section where the user can work on melody recognition, and instrument identification. There are different levels of difficulty in all exercises. The Melodic Module has a melodic contour identification section as well as note and chord recognition section.

• Telephone with Confidence
  Daily recordings of words and short passages by calling 1-800-458-4999. The written text is provided so you can follow along. The written text can be accessed by selecting the date you are calling. Both men and women's voices are used. 

• Audio for ESL/EFL: Listen and Read Along
  Tracking exercises of various topics. Depending on the person's hearing abilities, the recommended exercise can range from normal rate and inflections (e.g. Barrack Obama's Weekly Addresses) to reduced rate speech, (e.g. Science in the News).

• ReadMyQuips
  ReadMyQuips uses both a man's voice and woman's voice to present a quote. The missing words in the quote are entered on a crossword puzzle by the user. Incorrect answers will be highlighted in orange, and the user is allowed to repeat as needed. The level of difficulty can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the background noise. The face of the speaker can be viewed as a lip-reading only exercise if so desired.

• Hearing Journey
  This site has an online version of Making the Connection Workbook, which consists of a sound file and a pdf file of the script (e.g. common greetings, common questions, etc.). The discriminating activities section allows you to download the CLIX program. This is an exercise focusing on word discrimination of differing syllables, consonants in initial and final positions, and some vowels. The user can work with a coach or independently using the recorded sound files. (A version of this for the iPad can be downloaded for free from the iStore by searching AB Clix). There is a music appreciation section which includes genre identification, instrument identification, famous melody identification, as well as tips for training to appreciate music.
  
  You can download mp4 (video file listening exercises that you can do on your own with any video capable MP3 player) for almost all the sections. For those who are working with a coach, you can use their printout passages and instructions as well as tips on how to do the various exercises.
  
  This site requires you to register and log on. Once you do so, select Teens/Adults and then select Discrimination activities to find the exercises described above. 

• MED-EL 2009
  Both men and women's voices are used to present the names the oceans and continents. The user is prompted to click on the corresponding oceans and continents on a map. Once the patient selects the correct answers, the next sequence is presented. The user is able to select level of difficulty, and progress is measured by how much time it takes for user to complete the exercise. It also gives immediate feedback as to whether a response is correct or incorrect. 

• Matrix sentence 2
  Work on recognition of various sentences with the user choosing from parameters such as men or women's voices, level of background noise and type of background noise. The possible choices for each word position are listed. The program gives feedback on how many words the user gets correct at the end.

• MED-EL
  Slightly different version of previous exercise. Work on recognition of various sentences with the user choosing from parameters such as men or women's voices, level of background noise, and rate of speech. The possible choices for each word position are listed. The program gives feedback on how many words the user gets correct at the end.
  
  
• Chirp! Bird Songs Canada +
  "Chirp! Birdsongs of Canada" is an app that can be purchased through iTunes for $2.99. The user can select to listen and attempt to recognize various bird songs. The selection of birds can be arranged according to name, or location, most common to rare, etc. There is also a written description of each bird song under that bird's picture.