Listen Hear (Sensory Software)
by Gerry Kennedy
For PC Compatible Computers running MS Windows 3.1, 95 and 98
Listen Hear
ListenHear has been designed for the sensory and auditory stimulation of very young children and those with developmental disabilities. The program plays recorded sounds (i.e. .wav files) in stereo sound through your external speakers or through headphones. Listen Hear is an excellent tool for assisting individuals of any age who require auditory stimulation.
The sounds can be set up to play in a number of different ways:
- the sounds can come from the left speaker,
- the sounds can come from the right,
- they can be made to move around,
- the sounds can also be set to get louder and quieter.
These settings can then be saved in a sound effects file (.sfx) and stored for later use by the same client or by other users. There are quite a number of effects and the sound can also “come” from a distance, move in or out from the listener, move forward and back or play from a fixed distance.
The package has over 90 pre-recorded sounds. They can be played momentarily when the mouse button is pressed or play in a continuous loop until stopped. You can use the built-in software on your PC using Windows 95 or 98 utility software (i.e. usually located in Start/ Programs/ Accessories/ Entertainment) or use another dedicated program to record sound effects, voice, music or any sound clip required. It is up to your ingenuity and imagination!
You locate the File menu and then choose Load Effect. You can load different effects and then play them by clicking on the Play button. The sounds can be Loop Played, which means that they will continue to play until they are stopped.
To create your own effects you load an existing .wav or .sfx file, click on effects and then experiment with the Effects dialog box. It can import .mid or .wav file standards. Once you have the effect that you want then click OK in the dialog box and you can then save it under a new name (click on File, Save effect).
This has a very specific target audience. Its appeal scope and usefulness will be to a niche market. Essentially it does what it is designed to achieve – and does it very effectively! It will be very useful as a diagnostic tool.
NOTE: There are no visuals! It is VERY specific program and caters to parents, teachers or therapists who are testing for listening skills in response to auditory stimuli. It may prove useful for helping to discriminate and testing for hearing in alternate or both ears.