“Too Noisy” App Review
written by Nicole Filiberti, MSW, LCSW/ Psychological & Educational Consulting, LLC
A social skill that can be very useful for students with special needs and neurotypical kids alike is using an appropriate voice level for their current setting. The voice level used in a library is different than the one used on a playground. This skill utilizes both self-regulation (assuring I use the appropriate voice level even if I’m frustrated or very excited) and perspective taking (how does my voice level impact those around me?) An app that can be useful for this skill is “Too Noisy”. I downloaded the app and tested it out and I’m here to share my thoughts.
- It’s very-user friendly
There is no need to create an account to enjoy the free version of this app. You simply download the app and get to using it right away. It is very user friendly and easy to figure out the different settings. There are options to upgrade to the “pro” version which includes more background theme options, but I find the sunny blue-sky version that comes along with the free one works just fine to assist kids with this skill. - It’s visually engaging
“Too Noisy” uses a cute little emoji face who reacts to the noise level received by the app. The facial expressions change in reaction to the voice level being just right and getting too loud. This is great because it strengthens the skill of interpreting how other people feel through facial expressions. - It’s easy to incorporate into the daily routine
Downloading the app on a phone or iPad means you can easily set it up to be on while your child is completing homework, playing in the living room, or getting work done during a virtual learning day. Explain to your child that the goal is to keep the emoji happy which means they are using the appropriate voice level. There are different settings you can use with the free version that allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone to best fit your needs at the time.