5 Technologies to Help Dyslexic Learners
At least three-quarters of a billion people worldwide have difficulty reading at the pace and accuracy expected of their age group. Although dyslexia is a “learning disability,” it doesn’t take away the learner’s strong problem-solving, creative, and visual skills.
Many successful people have dyslexia, underscoring the role of some factors in making dyslexia more manageable. One of these influences is technological innovations. If you know someone with dyslexia, here are five technologies to help dyslexic learners.
1. Text-to-Speech (TTS)
Most people with dyslexia do not have issues hearing and understanding spoken words. However, they find looking for the correct word to use in the response challenging, often leading to misspeaking or short utterances. Text-to-speech software can help people with dyslexia express their thoughts freely and accurately.
Learners with dyslexia often find it challenging (and embarrassing) to read a passage out loud in class. TTS technology converts written information into audio data. The device broadcasts the audio through a speaker, which the learner can share with the class or listen to with headphones.
Read&Write, ClaroRead, and Natural Reader are excellent examples of TTS technology for people with dyslexia.
2. Speech Recognition
The diametrical opposite of text-to-speech technology, speech recognition software transforms a person’s spoken words into written material. Learners with dyslexia will have no issues writing essays, reports, emails, and other written forms of communication.
People with dyslexia can express their thoughts and write their opinions without stressing about the correct words. This technology works best with a grammar and spelling checker to make the output more precise.
Examples of this technology include Apple Dictation, Windows 10 Speech Recognition, Google Docs Voice Typing, and Dragon by Nuance.
3. Digital Scanning Pens
Portable pen scanners use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to convert scanned data into digital text. These devices can integrate a TTS system to transform the text file into an audio format.
Learners with dyslexia can use these “smart pens” on almost any learning material. It allows them to scan, edit, and print text information or convert it to audio files for easier consumption.
ScanMarker Air, C-Pen Reader, and IRISPen Air 7 are some of the popular pen scanners today.
4. Grammar and Spelling Checkers
The bread-and-butter of content writers and copywriters, most spelling and grammar checkers have people with dyslexia in mind. These proofreading tools work best with text-to-speech applications to ensure a more meaningful writing experience for learners with dyslexia.
These technologies focus on phonic approximations, allowing them to offer more accurate grammar and spell checks than built-in features in document applications (i.e., Microsoft Word).
Examples of these dyslexia-centric innovations include Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, LanguageTool, and Quillbot.
5. Digital Display Controls
Some people with dyslexia find it challenging to process letters with excessively bright backgrounds. Moreover, expanded character spacing can create a “river” pattern between elements or characters. It makes focusing and reading more challenging.
Inverting the display screen’s backlighting from bright to dark can help learners with dyslexia focus on what they are reading. It also allows them to follow the material at a slightly faster pace than most people with dyslexia.
Learners with dyslexia are creative and strong problem-solvers. They might only have issues with language processing, but these five technologies can make life and learning easier and more fun for them.
References
https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/services/assistive-technology/
https://www.texthelp.com/resources/blog/5-ways-assistive-technology-can-help-dyslexic-students/
https://www.wired.com/story/the-best-assistive-technology-dyslexia/
https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/research/dyslexia-statistics
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-grammar-checker
https://www.readandspell.com/does-dyslexia-affect-speech
https://zapier.com/blog/best-text-dictation-software/
https://www.mbreviews.com/best-pen-scanner-digital-highlighter/
