.: LACE - Listening And Communication Enhancement
Get The Overview
What is LACE?
LACE is an acronym for Listening And Communication Enhancement. Conceived by leading audiologists at the University of California at San Francisco, LACE is an interactive computerized aural rehabilitation program that has already helped thousands of people who live with some degree of hearing loss increase their listening skills by 40%. Just as physical therapy can help rebuild muscles and adjust movements to compensate for physical weakness or injury, LACE can develop skills and strategies that can help compensate for those situations when hearing is inadequate. LACE has also been proven to help hearing-aid users become more comfortable hearing the new sounds their hearing instruments bring. LACE works on Windows XP, Vista and Apple OSX 10.4 or newer and now on home DVD players.
We don't really hear in our ears; we hear in our brain. Hearing aids can help a person detect softer sounds, but they don't necessarily provide good listening skills. Read More»
Even people with normal hearing can be poor listeners. Good listening skills is one of the essential components in effective communication.
Other components include rapid thought processing, auditory memory, use of language skills, and interactive strategies. Additionally, the confidence that what you thought you heard was what was actually spoken is vital.
These abilities can be damaged both by hearing loss and by the natural aging process. LACE is designed to enhance the ability to communicate by training the brain to best utilize these skills.
LACE 4 Is Here - Now on DVD
Check Out What's New
LACE 4 marks a major milestone in the development of aural rehabilitation software and includes many new features and expanded functionality. Most notable is the addition of a companion DVD version of LACE packaged with the standard CD-ROM, enabling users without computers to benefit from LACE training by using their TV and any standard DVD player. Users easily navigate the interface using the arrows on the DVD remote.
Additional new features for PC users include flexible and unlimited training options beyond the standard 20 LACE training sessions, and a new portable registration process enabling the user to register and complete a brief LACE example session in the clinic and then re-register on their home PC to resume training.
New DVD contains the same powerful features found in LACE computer version:
Adaptive Degraded Speech Training
• Speech In Noise, Rapid Speech and Competing Speaker Training Modules
• Training adapts to user response similar to Computer version
• Training Level Score Card allows user to resume training at last difficulty level
Adaptive Auditory Memory Training
• Word Memory Task improves auditory working memory
• As user improves, the training becomes more difficult
Communication tips help DVD user adjust to new hearing aids and assist in developing communication strategies.
Ten 30 minute sessions provide complete auditory training regimen. No repeat sentences in the five hours of training.
Standardized testing (QuickSIN™, Rapid Speech Test, Competing Speaker Test) can be administered using LACE 4's free Clinic Edition software.
Updates in LACE 4 Software
Multi-location LACE Training:
LACE's new mobility feature allows your patients to train at home or in your clinic using the same registration code. This technology was developed in response to many requests from practitioners who want to train their users on the benefits of LACE, remove the fear of undertaking a new training program and provide in-clinic as well as at-home training flexibility.
Unlimited training time:
LACE 4 now allows the user to continue training after the initial twenty sessions. This long awaited feature allows your patients using computers to select their training task after the initial twenty sessions.
LACE Works Together With You
Hear the difference
LACE is always adapting to your listening skills. The difficulty level of the task is based on the accuracy of your response to the previous task, so LACE is never too difficult or too easy. LACE provides a variety of interactive and adaptive tasks that are divided into three main categories:
1. Degraded Speech Task Examples
Once you've set your computer's speaker volume to a comfortable level, click on the play buttons below to hear a brief example of the degraded speech tasks.
Speech in Noise
Listening in loud places
Easy: Harder:
Rapid Speech
Listening to fast talkers
Easy: Harder:
Competing Voices
Listen for the child's voice
Easy: Harder:
2. Auditory Memory & Cognitive Skills
- Target Word – short and long term memory training
- Missing Word – improves speed of processing and use of contextual cues
3. Communication Strategies
- Strategies to help in daily communication activities
- Helpful Information about hearing loss and how to prevent it
Feature Overview
Learn More
To learn more about LACE, please visit the Feature Overview page.
Demo Download
Try a Free Demo
This free trial version provides an overview of each of the LACE training modules.
See The Proof
Hear What Others Have To Say
LACE has already helped thousands of people improve their listening and communication skills.
