Fast ForWord is a computer-based reading program with limited evidence of effectiveness, created by Scientific Learning Corporation.
A systematic review which focused on high quality randomised controlled trials did not find any positive benefit of the intervention.
The only randomized controlled trial provided no evidence for differential improvements, even on measures tapping similar aspects of auditory language processing.The research literature on Fast ForWord was reviewed by What Works Clearinghouse, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences.
Positive effectiveness ratings and improvement indices were found for alphabetics, reading fluency, comprehension, and English language development.
[6] The Fast ForWord products evolved from the theory of a number of scientists, including Michael Merzenich, Bill Jenkins, Paula Tallal, and Steven L Miller.