3 Good Text to Speech Tools for Struggling Readers

June 16, 2015
We have received a few requests over the last couple of weeks to share our recommendations for text to speech tools designed specifically for struggling readers.While all text to voice converters can be used by both struggling and non struggling readers, the tools listed below are reputed for being effective with kids with reading disorders.  Natural Reader is not free but it does  offer a free trial period to test the application and decide if it works for you.

1- Natural Reader

‘NaturalReader is a Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words. NaturalReader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or iPod. NaturalReader has many other functions, such as OCR. OCR function works with your scanner to convert printed characters into digital text and it is up to 99% accurate. This allows you to listen to your printed file or edit it in a word-processing program.’

2- Read & Write for Google

‘Read&Write for Google™ offers a range of powerful support tools to help students gain confidence with reading and writing, including:Hear words, passages, or whole documents read aloud with easy-to-follow dual color highlighting; See the meaning of words explained with text and picture dictionaries; Hear text translated into other languages and many more’.

3- SpeakIt

‘SpeakIt reads selected text using Text-to-Speech technology with language auto-detection. It can read text in more than 50 languages. Here is how it works:

• First select the text you want it to read.
• Then click the icon to start listening.
• When it is ready to read, the number of sentences is shown on the icon.
• To stop listening at any time click pause ‘

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