EarlyBird Dyslexia Screener and SoapBox Speech Recognition Technology Paired to Help Predict Reading Problems in Young Pre-Readers

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 12/08/22

EarlyBird Education and SoapBox Labs have partnered and paired their technology to identify potential dyslexia or other reading problems in young children who have not yet learned to read. The technology was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital, along with faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research. It is now available for pre-K and first-grade levels, and will be expanding to second- and third-grade levels, EarlyBird reports.

Using a cloud-based platform, the EarlyBird dyslexia screener features a friendly robot that extends a microphone to invite the child to speak. SoapBox’s automated speech recognition engine listens to and identifies the child’s speech patterns, processing various accents and dialects. The results are scored automatically by an AI and shown on the dashboard. Assessed are the main predictors of reading skills: naming speed (Rapid Automated Naming), sound symbol correspondence, phonemic/phonological awareness, word reading, phonics, and oral language comprehension. The software provides a customized plan to help teachers work with students in specific problem areas before they learn to read.

SoapBox Labs will hold a webinar Tuesday, December 13, at 11:30 a.m. EST on how EarlyBird uses voice technology for dyslexia screening. Register here to attend.

Visit EarlyBird Education to learn more about how it developed its assessment technology.

Visit this SoapBox Labs’ page to understand how child speech recognition technology is used in language assessment.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.