Text-to-Speech Tools for Students with Dyslexia

Text-to-Speech software converts written text into audible words. Students with dyslexia often find it challenging to read at grade level. This software allows them to listen to the content, providing access to essential reading material. Text-to-speech software helps bypass the visual and decoding difficulties associated with dyslexia, allowing the listener to focus on comprehension instead. Studies have shown that text-to-speech can have a positive impact on reading vocabulary and comprehension. (Park, Takahashi, Roberts & Delise (2016), Košak-Babuder, M., Kormos, J., Ratajczak, M., & Pižorn, K. (2018)) Text-to-speech technology may also increase motivation and promote independence. There are many great Text-to-Speech tools available including:

Natural Reader has a user-friendly interface and natural-sounding voices. It is downloadable and uses a floating toolbar. It can be used to read any text in a document, email, or web browser. The tool can be used in a variety of digital sources by copying and pasting text.

Cost: There is a free version and a paid version. It is free to download as a web app, a mobile app for Ios and Android and as a chrome extension. The free mobile version requires an internet connection and there is a time limit on usage. Some advanced features are only for paid users. The paid version at $9.92 a month gives access to thousands of voices, mp3 downloads and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for physical text.

Read&Write by Everway is another great resource with a text-to-speech feature, as well as vocabulary and writing support. It also has a feature called Rewordify that simplifies text without changing the meaning. The text-to-speech feature uses dual highlighting so students can track the print as they listen. There is a free version for teachers. For an individual, the cost is $175 a year. There are also K-12 group and district rates. Read&Write is available for Windows, Mac, Google Chrome, iPad and Android. Teachers and students can use Read&Write on their laptop, tablet or Chromebook.

Voice Dream Reader is a text-to-speech app for iOS and Mac devices that reads digital text aloud using natural-sounding voices. Users can adjust font size, speed, and voice options to create a personalized reading experience. Text is highlighted as it is read aloud. There is also an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) function for scanned documents. Users can read anything from PDfs to web pages to textbooks. It can also translate into 27 languages. It can work without an internet connection. Subscription cost is $59.99 a year.

References

Košak-Babuder, M., Kormos, J., Ratajczak, M., & Pižorn, K. (2018). The effect of read-aloud assistance on the text comprehension of dyslexic and non-dyslexic English language learners. Language Testing, 36(1), 51-75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532218756946 

Park HJ, Takahashi K, Roberts KD, Delise D. Effects of text-to-speech software use on the reading proficiency of high school struggling readers. Assist Technol. 2017 Fall;29(3):146-152. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2016.1171808. Epub 2016 May 16. PMID: 27184520.