How does text to speech help people with dyslexia?
Text to speech turns written words into spoken words, so the effort goes into understanding the ideas instead of decoding each letter. Many people with dyslexia understand spoken language very well; listening gives them access to the same content at their real comprehension level. Following along with the text while the voice reads (sometimes called “ear reading”) can also reinforce word recognition over time.
Speechma is a simple way to try it: paste the text into the box above, pick a voice that sounds pleasant to you, choose a comfortable speed and press generate. There is nothing to install and no account to create, so it works on a school Chromebook, a family laptop or a phone.
How to use Speechma as a reading aid
- Copy the textSelect text from a web page, Google Doc, email or PDF and copy it. For paper worksheets, a phone scanning app can turn a photo into text first.
- Paste in chunksPaste up to 2,000 characters at a time (roughly a page of a school textbook). Shorter chunks are easier to follow and remember.
- Pick a calm, clear voicePreview a few voices. Many listeners prefer a voice with a familiar accent, such as an American voice for US students.
- Set a comfortable speedStart slightly slower than normal. As you get used to listening, try normal speed, which many people find easier than they expect.
- Listen, follow and downloadEnter the 5-digit code, then listen while following the text with your eyes or a finger. Download the MP3 to replay later or study on the bus.
Ways to use text to speech at school, home and work
| Situation | How to use it | Helpful setting |
|---|---|---|
| Homework reading | Paste the chapter section by section; listen and follow along | Slightly slow speed |
| Checking your own writing | Paste your essay and listen for missing words or typos | Normal speed; you hear errors your eyes skip |
| Studying for tests | Download study notes as MP3 and replay them | Normal speed; use “download all” for a whole unit |
| Long emails at work | Paste the email and listen before replying | Normal or slightly fast speed |
| Reading for pleasure | Listen to articles or public-domain stories | Pick a storyteller voice you enjoy |
| Parents helping at home | Make audio versions of instructions and reading lists | Clear voice, slightly slow |
Tips that make listening easier
- Follow along. Keep the text visible while listening. Seeing and hearing words together helps both understanding and word recognition.
- Proofread by ear. Listening to your own writing catches missing words, doubled words and sentences that do not make sense.
- Use your favorite voice every time. Save it as a favorite. A familiar voice is easier to listen to.
- Take breaks between chunks. Pause after each section and say in one sentence what it was about.
- Add pauses if text feels rushed. Extra commas or periods in the pasted text give natural pauses.
- Turn your ideas into text, too. Writing can be the hardest part. Record yourself speaking your ideas and use Speech to Text to get a written draft.
An aid, not a diagnosis or treatment
Speechma is a general reading aid. It does not diagnose or treat dyslexia. If you think you or your child has dyslexia, talk to a teacher, school psychologist or reading specialist. In US public schools, students with a qualifying learning disability may be eligible for accommodations, such as text to speech, through an IEP or 504 plan. Our accessibility page explains how we design Speechma for everyone.
Reading longer texts
For a novel, a long article or a full textbook chapter, split the text into parts of up to 2,000 characters and generate them one after another with the same voice. Use “download all” to save the parts as a ZIP and play them in order. If you read long documents every day, SpeechmaPRO.com takes up to 10,000 characters at once with no captcha or ads, which is more comfortable for long study sessions. Schools and edtech tools that want built-in read-aloud can use the Speechma API.
Frequently asked questions
Is Speechma text to speech for dyslexia free?
Does it work on a school Chromebook or iPad?
What is the best voice for dyslexic readers?
Is my text private?
Can I listen to PDFs?
Is there a read-aloud tool for whole web pages?
Make better voiceovers, faster
- New voices and features the day they launch
- Script templates and tricks that make AI voices sound human
- Creator stories, community picks and early access
