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Speech To Text For Students With Disabilities ,Apps, Tools, and Software

Speech to Text tools are available on your computer through your device, browser or extensions. This technology premiered in 1936 with the first text to speech device and over time continued to develop with more advanced and improved technology. Speech technology installed on computers or devices with different apps and software help anyone with dyslexia or other learning disabilities. 

Table of Contents

History of Speech to Text Technology 

1936 – First Text to Speech Tools 

Believe or not the first speech to text was the world’s first voice electronic synthesizer created in 1936 by Homer Dudley in the Bell Telephone Laboratory in Murray Hill, New Jersey. The speech-to-text- , the first electronic device that could generate continuous human speech electronically became the first text to speech device.

Although, not as efficient as our present-day text to speech the Voder was audible.  According to Smithsonian.com   the Voder “could create 20 or so different buzzes and chirps, which the operator could manipulate using 10 keys, a wrist plate, and a pedal.” 

From the 1950s to ’60s

In the history of speech recognition software technology, this was the era of ‘baby talk’; only numbers and digits could be comprehended. In 1952, ‘ Audrey ’ was invented by Bell Laboratories which could only understand numbers. But in 1962, the ‘shoebox’ technology was able to understand 16 words in English. Later, voice recognition was enhanced to comprehend 9 consonants and 4 vowels.

The U.S. Department of Defense contributed heavily towards the development of speech recognition systems and from 1971 to 1976, it funded the DARPA SUR (Speech Understanding Research) program. As a result, ‘ Harpy ’ was developed by Carnegie Mellon which had the ability to comprehend 1011 words. It employed a more efficient system of searching for logical sentences. There were also parallel advancements in technology such as the development of a device by Bell Laboratories that could understand more than one person’s voice.

Speech to Text Technology grew throughout the 1970s through the 1990’s

There were several breakthroughs in the Speech to Text technology. Contributions from the U.S. Department of Defense supported speech recognition technology from 1971 to 1976 with the development of DARPA SUR ‘s (Speech Understanding Research) program. According to Total Voice Technologies web site, “Harpy” developed by Carnegie Mellon was able to comprehend 1011 words.

Searching for logical sentences was also an ability of Harpy’s. Bell’s technologies were not to be left behind, the company developed a device that could understand more than one person’s voice. 

According to Total Voice Technologies web site timeline, the 1980s proved to be a promising time for Speech to Text technology. Using statistics to determine the probability of a word originating from an unknown sound the hidden Markov model did not rely on fixed templates or speech patterns. This technology was mostly used in industries and business applications. 

In the 80s speech recognition was not flawless, for the speech recognition system to be successful there needed to be a break between each spoken word. 

In the 90’s faster computers and processors helped Speech to Text technology advance. In 1994 Nuance was founded. Nuance deployed its first commercial large-scale speech application in 1996. This application was a call center’s automated answering center.

Marketing call center automation would reduce the staff of call center staff.

Today’s Speech to Text Technology

Today speech technology is everywhere and can recognize spoken words and convert them to text. We interact with speech recognition tools when we call companies with automated customer service. Voice assistants can reply with accuracy in response to answers supplied by the caller.

Currently, all major technology companies have invested heavily in the development of speech recognition. Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Home are used in homes and speech recognition which can control devices in smart homes. Speech recognition is also used in cars with navigation, making cell phone calls and getting information on restaurants, movie theaters, and stores. 

Speech to text tools for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia

It is very empowering to young dysgraphia or dyslexia students that have a very hard time writing simple sentences when they want to write a bigger story. Speech to Text can be very useful for students when searching for subjects on the internet. However, strange mistakes can happen and cause frustration.

Speech to text software is getting better all the time, but it’s not yet perfect. Sometimes, speech to text has a hard time “understanding” user intent or has a hard time understanding different accents. However, this can be resolved with playback functionality so that your words can be read back to users. This tool helps to ensure the text says what you intended. 

In middle school and high school and college, using speech to text to successfully write something as complex as a paper requires quite a bit of preparation. Planning out the sequence of your ideas, and speaking in complete, fluent sentences is difficult. There will be a lot of redoing and adjusting for the student but if an outline and ideas are well thought out there might be less adjustment. 

Popular Speech to Text Technology Tools

There are multiple popular speech technology tools are currently available on the market. speech-to-text a speech to text software used in schools helps students write and perform to their abilities.

The software takes what they are saying and types it down for the student. They can edit it for more accuracy and clarity and the process is faster as well as gives the student confidence and the ability to get their ideas down in a productive manner. According to the Dragon Speech Recognition Resolution website students to business professionals use the software to enhance their work productivity by “working faster and smarter”.  

Text to Speech Browser Extensions

There are speech to text tools and extensions on your computer and devices that will also give you the ability to speak and it will type in your words. If you are wanting to read back your words enable TTS or Text to Speech, Installing the appropriate extension will enable you to highlight the text you want to read and choose to speak on your extension like chrome browsers or google chrome .  

The Elegant Themes business blog lists “ 10 Best Speech to Text Tools to Speed Up Your Writing Process”. This list includes Google docs voice to text, Window, and Apple dictation and many more. 

Today’s speech technology is creating a positive learning and writing environment for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia students and adults.  Technologies that were mostly created and designed by private industry and the U.S. Government benefit students and adults with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties. While technology improves, the learning environment for these students and adults will also improve and lead them to success.

Below are additional Speech to Text Tools and Resources

• 10 Best Speech to Text Tools to Speed Up Your Writing Process
• 8 Voice-to-Text Software That’ll Help You Work Faster
• Best speech to text app of 2019

Photo by  Alphacolor  on  Unsplash

Related posts:

5 Assistive Technology Tools for Students with Dyslexia

Support your struggling readers with assistive technology for dyslexia. Learn which tools you need here.

In the United States, between 5% and 17% of the population has a learning disability that interferes with reading or spelling. Dyslexia is the most common of these disabilities—and, according to some analyses, it’s even more common than these statistics suggest. The International Dyslexia Association estimates that up to one fifth of readers have symptoms of dyslexia, for example.

If you’re an educator, you’ve surely encountered these symptoms. People with dyslexia often struggle with reading comprehension. They may find it difficult to decode unfamiliar words. They might mix up sentences or be prone to misspellings or mispronunciations. All these symptoms might occur at once.

The good news is that, with the right support, students with dyslexia can meet their learning goals—and stay at peer level in all subjects, including STEAM education. That support often comes in the form of assistive technology , or AT.

What exactly does that look like in the classroom or study hall? Here are five examples of assistive technology for dyslexia, any one of which could be the key to better learning outcomes for your students.

Assistive technology provides support where it’s needed, removing a clearly defined barrier to access. A student with a motor disability might need a book holder or an adaptive pencil grip. A student with hearing loss might need a hearing aid or captioned lectures. And a student with dyslexia might need one (or more) of these five assistive technology tools.

1. Text Presentation Controls

A lot of today’s learning content is found online. Whether it’s an online course, academic journal article, e-book, or the open internet, digital text can present unique challenges to readers with dyslexia. Namely, the way text looks can make it hard to read.

Of course, every reader—with or without dyslexia—has a unique set of personal needs and preferences. There’s no one font, text size, or color combination that works best for everyone. That’s why it’s often helpful to give readers control over the appearance of their text.

Online tools provide this capability. ReadSpeaker TextAid is a digital literacy support tool that, in addition to enabling text-to-speech (TTS) web reading, allows readers to personalize the appearance of online text. Students with dyslexia often find it helpful to adjust the font, text size, and color for better focus and readability. TextAid provides this capability—and it integrates natively into all major learning management systems (LMS).

Text presentation tools are particularly helpful when people with dyslexia read long, complex documents, said Kelly Indah, editor-in-chief at tech site IncrediTools. Indah described a “close colleague” with dyslexia who uses this assistive technology to read “lengthy technical documents.”

Personalized text settings have “significantly improved his comprehension and reduced the amount of time he spends on each document,” Indah said.

2. Reading Focus Tools

Sometimes it’s easier for people with dyslexia to read text one line—or one word—at a time. With a print book, a simple ruler or note card may be all the AT you need. These tools keep the reader’s attention focused, limiting the distraction of seemingly endless text fields.

Similar tools are available online. ReadSpeaker TextAid even allows readers to highlight text as the TTS engine reads it out loud. It also provides a digital screen mask and reading ruler to help readers stay focused.

These are the sorts of tools that Jess Brooks, professional educator and managing editor of education site Hess UnAcademy, recommends for students with dyslexia.

“Colored overlays or filters on screens or printed materials can help reduce visual stress,” the educator said.

TextAid provides this support for all digital text, including content held within your LMS.

Learn more about ReadSpeaker TextAid

3. Speech Recognition Software

Many students with dyslexia find it easier to speak than write. Speech-to-text technology turns spoken language into written words instantly, providing a key support to people who struggle with putting words on the page.

This assistive technology tool has helped Marc Hardgrove, CEO at digital marketing firm The HOTH, overcome challenges associated with his dyslexia. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case during Hardgrove’s school years, he said.

“During my time in school, we did not have the same level of technology that is available today,” Hardgrove said. “I had to overcome my disability by finding alternative ways to learn and retain information.”

These days, Hardgrove finds both TTS and speech-to-text dictation tools particularly helpful, he said.

“Assistive aids like text-to-speech software and dictation tools have made me more efficient,” the CEO said. “They have allowed me to communicate effectively with my team and clients without worrying about my spelling or grammar.”

Speech-to-text voice typing is part of ReadSpeaker TextAid’s suite of writer’s tools. That allows you to bring native dictation to your LMS. If you’re operating outside an LMS, however, you might try a free speech-to-text service like Google Docs’s voice typing capability, said Brooks.

“This software allows students to speak their ideas, which are then transcribed into written text,” Brooks explained. “This can be beneficial for students with dyslexia who struggle with writing and spelling.”

4. Writing Assistance Software

Speech to text can help people with dyslexia complete writing assignments, but it’s a heavier tool than some learners need. A few supports tacked onto word processing software may be more appropriate for some writers.

TextAid makes a lot of these assistive writing features available, including:

• Auto-completion with smart word prediction, which can reduce the cognitive load of choosing common words
• TTS-based text read-back, which introduces an element of auditory processing during the act of writing
• Spell check with suggested corrections, which addresses the spelling challenges associated with dyslexia

Because TextAid integrates into LMS environments, it brings these tools directly to your online learning systems. That way, students don’t have to open multiple apps or windows to get the support they need.

TextAid also functions online, so it’s available outside an LMS, as well—and it’s not just for standard written language. Writing assistance tools are also helpful for working with computer code, Indah said.

“In my role as a mentor for young coders, I’ve also seen how these tools can  transform learning experiences,” Indah said. “I remember a bright young student who was struggling with reading code due to dyslexia. When we introduced her to writing assistance software, her performance skyrocketed. She was able to understand and correct her mistakes, leading to a tremendous increase in her coding skills.”

5. Text to Speech (TTS) Readers

All of the experts we spoke to for this article said TTS is essential assistive technology in classrooms, particularly for students with dyslexia:

• “TTS software converts written text into spoken words, which can help dyslexic students with reading comprehension,” said Brooks.
• “TTS tools have helped me a lot with my diction and pronunciation,” Hardgrove said.
• “The option to have text read back out loud is a feature found very useful by students with dyslexia,” Indah said.

Indeed, a 2018 meta-analysis in the Journal of Learning Disabilities found that “ text-to-speech/read aloud presentation positively impacts reading comprehension for individuals with reading disabilities. ”

Bring assistive technology for dyslexia to your digital learning environments with ReadSpeaker TextAid. Top-quality synthetic voices in many styles and languages keep learners engaged, while a suite of reading/writing tools provides support beyond TTS alone.

Find out what ReadSpeaker TextAid can do for your students with dyslexia.

Digital media innovators like Corriere della Sera include AI-driven digital voice as part of their brand strategy, as a way to meet evolving user needs and expectations and to grow their business.

Accessibility overlays have gotten a lot of bad press, much of it deserved. So what can you do to improve web accessibility? Find out here.

With Snap&Read sunsetting in December 2024, explore ReadSpeaker and Read&Write as powerful alternatives for text-to-speech tools in education.

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The Best Assistive Technology for Dyslexics

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My daughter is part of the 15–20 percent of students and adults living with a language-based learning disability. According to the International Dyslexia Association , these individuals have some or all of the symptoms of dyslexia, including slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or mixing up similar words and numbers.

Once we diagnosed her dyslexia, I understood she needed the help of assistive technology to learn at a rate on par with her classmates, but I wasn’t sure where to start. In honor of Dyslexia Awareness Month this October, I reached out to several assistive technology experts to find out what technology they recommend for facilitating and improving reading, writing, spelling, and math.

Here’s what Jamie Martin, Assistive Technology Specialist at the New England Assistive Technology Center and Karen Janowski, Assistive & Educational Technology Consultant at EdTech Solutions and co-author of Inclusive Learning 365 recommend. Although Janowski offers one caveat:

“Keep in mind there are pros and cons to all assistive technology and there isn’t one miracle app, You may have to try a few before you find the best solution for you or your child.”

IOS , Android

Both experts recommend Voice Dream Reader as the best app in the text-to-speech space. “It’s like a Kindle app for your mobile device. You can highlight, take notes, and sync with Google drive, Safari, email, DropBox, and other reading services,” says Martin.

You can change the fonts, colors, and line spacing, making small text far less intimidating for people with dyslexia. You can also use Voice Dream Scanner to scan text into the app and read it aloud.

You may be able to get the school to buy the app for you, or you can access it for $20 with the choice of in-app purchases.

Web , IOS , Android

What began as Recording for the Blind to help blinded soldiers after World War II is now a comprehensive library of more than 80,000 audiobooks designed for anyone with learning differences or visual impairments.

“It’s a fantastic service where you can follow along with the text as you’re listening, which is important for kids with dyslexia,” says Martin. A human voice reads the text, which some kids find easier to listen to than a computer-generated one.

Ask your school’s special education coordinator to provide you with a free membership. If your school doesn’t offer one, you can buy the service for $11.25/month.

Bookshare is a government-funded program that provides free access to electronic or ebook text and digital texts to people and students with disabilities. It’s free for anyone K through 12 in the United States, and adults can buy access for $50/year.

Because Bookshare operates under a copyright exemption, you have to show a Proof of Disability (POD) form or documentation from the school.

Martin recommends Bookshare based on its extensive library, including many textbooks kids need for school. But, it’s only digital text, so you’ll have to use a text-to-speech tool to read the text out loud. Bookshare links to several reading tools, including Dolphin Easy Reader , Speech Central , Capti Voice , and Voice Dream Reader .

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Speechify also deserves an honorable mention. It’s a well-designed app for students and adults alike, and it’s free with in-app purchases. You can scan a book, import a PDF, download from Google Drive, and sync across all your devices. Janowski says her 31-year-old dyslexic son swears by the app.

Check the settings on your Apple or Android device. By default, the text to speech option is turned off.

For Apple devices, go to Settings , select Accessibility , then Spoken Content to turn text to speech on.

For Android, go to Settings , select Accessibility , then text-to-speech output .

C-Pen Reader , Scanmarker Air , Ectaco C-Pen

Also called reading pens, these tools use optical character recognition software to capture text and send it to your computer or mobile device. Use it as a highlighter to scan written material and then read or manipulate it digitally. Some pens will read the text out loud as you’re scanning.

Reading pens are particularly helpful for reading handwritten material not available through programs like Bookshare or for mild dyslexics who struggle with multisyllabic words but don’t need all text read out loud.

Because dyslexia is a language-based disorder, troubles with spelling, grammar, and expression of thought are also challenges people with dyslexia face.

“I always recommend two different tools for kids: speech to text and word prediction,” says Martin. “Luckily, the technology has come a long way and is no longer expensive. Built-in dictation tools on devices like phones, iPads, and Google Docs work incredibly well.”

The problem is that kids may not want to use speech to text in the classroom because it’s disruptive to other students, or they feel embarrassed to go out in the hall. They can use headphones, but teachers aren’t always keen on this option during class. Programs that help with word prediction, spelling correction, and grammatical formatting like these will help with digital writing.

Web , IO S , Chrome Extension

From Facebook groups to experts, Co:Writer came up repeatedly as the best writing tool for people with dyslexia and others who struggle with handwriting or the expression of thought.

Janowski loves Co:Writer because you can build libraries of words based on what you’re writing about, or you can select from ones already available. For instance, you can select the Harry Potter library, and when you start typing H-o-g, Hogwarts will come up. The app also does a great job of recognizing phonetic misspelling, like blk for black or lfnt for elephant.

At $4.99/month for students, parents, or educators, the price tag is small. School districts can also buy a license for a large number of students and may be able to offer it free while your child is in school. Once you install the app or extension, it automatically syncs with Gmail, Google Docs, and many more.

Chrome Extension

My daughter’s special education coordinator set Read & Write for Google Chrome up on her school account, so I’ve had a chance to see how it works in action. The extension uses tools like screen mask (only the line being read is visible), simplify (summarizing complex language), and talk and type for a speech to text option. My ten-year-old navigates it like a pro, and the fact that the school gave it to her is a big plus.

The basic extension is free, but the premium version includes support for Google Docs, specifically, multi-highlighting options for active reading, extracting highlights, a vocabulary chart, a regular and picture dictionary, and word prediction. According to Google , the premium version is free for teachers to explore and costs $99 for a yearly subscription for student accounts.

Martin says Grammarly is a little more than most kids need, and it’s aimed at ages 13 and up, so keep that in mind. It’s a cloud-based program that integrates with Google Docs and has a plug-in for Microsoft Word. What’s great about Grammarly is it considers the context surrounding a word and can suggest changing something like your to you’re when necessary.

The app also makes suggestions to re-phrase wordy sentences and add transitional phrases that can improve your writing. However, the full range of features isn’t available on the free version. You’ll have to upgrade to premium for $29.95/month or $139.95/year.

Not everyone with dyslexia struggles with math, so the options aren’t as vast as language-based apps. If your child struggles like mine, Martin and Janowski recommend the following.

This free app allows users to write a math problem on the screen or use their camera to snap a photo of the problem. The app then provides the answer and step-by-step instructions on how to come to the solution. Students can use the example as a guide for completing other problems.

It also links to interactive graphs and programs like Khan Academy for support videos.

The developers behind this app created it for their son, who has dyslexia and dysgraphia (a severe handwriting disorder.) The program provides students with virtual graph paper, and they can use a touchscreen keypad to solve math problems without using a pencil. They will have to type equations on a keyboard, so if they prefer dictation, this app might not be for them.

You can also save assignments in a searchable library. However, Mod Math is better for younger grades doing lower-level math. Mod Math is free but only available on Apple devices.

Math Learning Center is a collection of apps targeted to students from pre-K to 5th grade. These apps support what’s taught in school and provide extra resources for parents, teachers, and children. All are available on the web, IOS, or Android operating systems and provide English and Spanish options.

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Analyzing the Mini-Games in Wii Play

The development and release of wii play, the role of choice and consequences in cyberpunk 2077, the narrative complexity of cyberpunk 2077, night city: a deep dive into cyberpunk 2077’s setting, the development journey of cyberpunk 2077, the vision behind cyberpunk 2077, the business of fifa: economics of a gaming juggernaut, the impact of fifa on soccer culture, the abyss bar and space rig, 11 must-have apps and tools for dyslexic students.

Dyslexic students can benefit greatly from using technology. There are apps and tools available that can help dyslexic students read, write, and more. Using these 11 apps and tools with dyslexic students will ensure they can keep up in your 21 st century classroom.

• Learning Ally

Learning Ally is a great resource for audiobooks. This app has hundreds of books for kids and teens available with a monthly subscription. Users can follow along and adjust the size or type of text to make it easier for dyslexic students.

• Natural Reader

Reading webpages, emails, and texts can be hard for dyslexic students. However, many text-to-speech apps sound mechanical and feel clunky. Natural Reader has a nice, natural-sounding voice that can read a variety of documents.

• Dyslexia Quest

Dyslexia Quest is an app that looks and feels like a game, but is designed to help dyslexic kids and teens work on memory skills, phonics, and sequencing—all skills that dyslexic students typically struggle with.

• Sound Literacy

For younger students with dyslexia, working with phonics is especially important. Sound Literacy is a fun app with game-like activities designed to help students learn to recognize letter sounds.

• Ginger Page

Dyslexic students often have trouble with spelling. Software with autocorrect or spellcheck sometimes can’t figure out what a dyslexic student is trying to spell. Ginger Page is a more sophisticated word processor that can help dyslexic students write flawlessly.

• vBooks PDF Voice Reader

Many text-to-speech apps are unable to convert PDF documents into speech. vBooks PDF Voice Reader can, and it can also change the font to one designed for dyslexic readers.

OpenWeb is a web browser that converts text into a dyslexic-friendly font, allowing dyslexic students to read with less difficulty. It’s useful for times when text-to-speech is unnecessary or disruptive.

• Reading Intro by Oz Phonics

Another great app for young students with dyslexia, Reading Intro by Oz Phonics helps kids learn to recognize letter sounds. The tasks are fun and simple enough for kids to play on their own.

• What is Dyslexia?

This app isn’t necessarily just for students with dyslexia, but it’s a great tool. It has a quiz that may help determine if a child is dyslexic or needs further screening. It also has information for teachers, parents, and other students to help them understand dyslexia.

• OCR Instantly Pro

Text-to-speech apps are great for online content, but what about books or worksheets? OCR Instantly Pro allows users to snap a photo of any page and convert it to text, which can then be read aloud by a number of apps.

• MindMeister

For dyslexic students, traditional note-taking is difficult. This app allows users to create graphic organizers or mind maps to jot down their thoughts quickly and easily.

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Speech-to-Text as a Dyslexia Tool

What is speech-to-text.

Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text (TTS, STT) refer to computer software that reads digital text aloud or converts spoken language to text.

Speech-to-Text Has Improved

Only a few years ago, text-to-speech (TTS) and speech-to-text (STT) technology were expensive and clunky to learn. The voices sounded horribly robotic, and many of our students resisted using them. However, new phones, tablets, and computers have microphones and STT/TTS capability. Most students now welcome the chance to use these tools. They are no longer “accommodations.” Professionals use these tools every day and our students instantly see them as valuable.

How to Use Speech-to-Text

For help turning speech-to-text on or finding it on your device, search YouTube for a tutorial — for example, “How to use speech-to-text on my iPad.” Or just ask your student; students often amaze us with technical savvy. Teachers sometimes worry that using STT/TTS will make students lazy about learning to spell and write. Similarly, we hear concerns that students might become lazy about improving their reading skills. In our experience, and in the research, the exact opposite is true. In fact, researchers found that STT/TTS technology “promotes independence, increases self-worth, and increases productivity in students with learning differences” (Edyburn, Higgins, & Boone, 2005) which can “increase motivation and learning” (Cardon, 2000).

Speech-to-Text Reinforces Tracking

Students using STT/TTS repeatedly hear their own voices speaking to the computer while watching their words appear on the screen. They hear and see the words simultaneously; just what tracking does! Furthermore, dyslexic students are often able to develop improved phonemic awareness because they need to enunciate clearly for the computer. When students use STT/TTS to have material read aloud, they are again presented with the written text while it is pronounced—gaining more of the necessary repetitions in a meaningful context. These tools are perfect for people with dyslexia!

Using Speech-to-Text Requires Coaching at First

In our experience, students gain the most benefit from STT/TTS when coached in how to use it, rather than simply placed in front of a computer and left to figure it out. We like to use a student’s homework or self-generated story to model how to use speech-to-text to bypass the frustration of writing/reading and produce work the student feels proud of. A third-grade boy we tutored had never produced more than one badly written sentence in school. After we modeled using STT/TTS, he wrote a three-page story in under an hour! He was excited to turn it in and amaze his teacher.

Editing provides a Natural Way to Teach Grammar

Students need coaching on how to edit the text produced when they speak to the computer. There will surely be errors to correct. Editing with a student is a wonderful, natural opportunity to teach grammar and talk about homonyms. The computer can’t tell if you say bare or bear. Laughing at the errors is a good start. Then show how to use the computer to look up meanings and do a spell check before printing the masterpiece. For older students, introduce a program like Grammarly to help catch errors when no tutor is around to help. Editing real work to produce excellence makes sense to students; whereas, editing for errors purposely produced on a worksheet is just frustrating.

Short Sessions Work Best at First

As with all the tools, we recommend a few minutes a day, rather than marathon study sessions. This is hard work, and it’s best not to overtire the student. We like to have the student begging for more!

By Yvonna Graham, M.Ed.

www.dyslexiakit.net

@GrahamYvonna