Product Review: WhisperPhone Duet with Deluxe Storage Pouch (Pre-School Age+)
Read Aloud. Hear Yourself. Learn Faster!
Two years ago I started reading about the importance of self-amplification when it comes to learning through the Talking Child LLC that was founded by two speech pathologists in 2002. Sound is a very important tool for learning and when babies babble it is their way to communicate and figure out speech. These early connections to speech and sound amplify (sorry, no pun intended) when children start to read and write. If you have not gathered through my multiple book review posts, I have a passion for literacy and wanted to learn more about how listening to oneself can not only promote speech it can also help those who struggle with reading. Not having a quiet environment to listen to letters or to sound out words when reading can be a major obstacle for many slow readers. There are many activities a parent can do with their child who are struggling with reading or speech, and I wanted to bring the use of the WhisperPhone Duet product to parents attention who may be interested.
The WhisperPhone Duet is a battery-free self-amplifier to help enhance student-to-student, parent-to-child and teacher-to-student reading activities. WhisperPhone Duet comes with two of the WhisperPhone handsets that can then be linked through a voice tube that can expand up to 6 feet. The WhisperPhone Duet is one size fits all and is dishwasher safe. This product is covered by a limited lifetime guarantee and also comes with a 7” x 9” eco-friendly zipper storage pouch. The WhisperPhone website has an Activities Curriculum section which offers reading materials for sale that will help integrate exercises for your child while using the WhisperPhone Duet. The Whisperphone Product page offers more information on the Duet as well as a full catalog of WhisperPhone products available including phones for single use. Check out WhisperPhone Facebook page that offers reviews and ideas on using their products!
Q&A with Steve Swain, Inventor of the WhisperPhone
Steve, could you give my readers a little background of what inspired you to invent the WhisperPhone?
Our son’s first grade teacher was using a home-made self-amplifier to help her students perform better on a vocabulary test. It was a hand-held device she had made in her garage so I asked my son what he thought of using this tool. He said he liked it, but didn’t like having to “hold the phone” because he already had a pencil and some paper to hold when he is writing his words. The next morning, I crafted a prototype of a hands-free model and showed it to my son. He loved it! From there, we designed WhisperPhone Solo® and have been providing that product around the world. WhisperPhone Duet was an inspiration from a current customer!
What type of research has been done to support the effectiveness of the WhisperPhone?
We have a research book available on our website that spells out the scientific causal links between WhisperPhone and developing literacy and language skills. However, I would simply say that the better a learner can hear their own voice (whether they are sounding out a word for a spelling test or during read aloud time at home or in the classroom, or trying to develop new language skills) the more easily they can detect individual sounds in that word; and that helps develop their literacy and language skills.
I read on the WhisperPhone website that this device qualifies under the Title I and Reading First funds. Could you tell my readers a little more about these two programs?
Both programs make federal funding available to help schools help their students develop reading and language skills. Our WhisperPhone product line qualifies for both of these programs because our products help develop reading and language skills. As a result, schools can apply for and use federal dollars from these programs to purchase WhisperPhones.
What are some favorite activities you recommend to parents who want to use the WhisperPhone Duet with their child to help with reading?
Our customers suggest using Duet for paired reading (reading with a buddy or parent), for preparing for a spelling test, and for helping a child/student learn to speak.
WhisperPhone Duet with Deluxe Storage Pouch (Pre-School Age+)
List Price: $18.99
Momma's Bacon 