How Can Text-to-Speech (TTS) Technology Help People Who Struggle With Reading?

The rapid emergence and evolution of education technology have dramatically changed the way students and teachers learn. There are now more ways for students to consume content, and the expectations of both teachers and students have increased.

Due to the increasing number of technological tools that allow learners to learn in various ways, it is important that teachers, course designers, and organization leaders are aware of the various forms of content that are available to them. One of these is text-to-speech, which can be used to read written content.

A text to speech video maker or TTS is used to read digital text aloud. With a button or touch, it can take words from a computer or other device and convert them into an audio format, which can be very helpful for children who struggle with reading, as it can help them focus and write.

How Does Text to Speech work? 

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a type of software that can be used on almost any digital device, such as tablets and computers. It can be used to read various types of text files, such as Word and Pages documents. 

The quality of the voice in TTS varies, though some voices sound like children. It can also be slowed down or sped up.

Text-to-speech (TTS) tools highlight words as children read them aloud. Some tools also have features that allow them to recognize images. 

For instance, if your child takes a photo of a street sign, the words on it will be turned into audio by the TTS tools.

How Does Text to Speech Help People with Disability?

Kids with reading difficulties might find it hard to grasp or decode printed materials in the classroom, especially when they struggle with their reading comprehension. With the help of TTS, digital text can help these kids.

Text-to-speech (TTS) not only provides children but also old people who have difficulties reading; it gives a multi-sensory reading experience by allowing them to see and hear the text as they read.

• They understand the word properly

• It gives them the ability to focus  and remember information while reading

• It allows paying attention to comprehension instead of sounding out words

• Provide students with staying power for reading assignments

• Helps people with reading disabilities recognize and fix errors in their own writing

Does Text to Speech Only for People Who Have Reading Difficulties?

Teachers started using TTS technology to help students with special education needs overcome their reading difficulties. It was also beneficial for people with vision impairments.

To be clear, TTS is not only for students with disabilities, but it is also used by other learners who have different needs and circumstances. 

Since today's learners are accustomed to a wide variety of ways to consume content, including multiple languages, multitasking, and consuming large amounts of content, it is becoming more common for them to use it.

Is it Easy To Use Text-to-Speech Tools?

Easy to implement and use, text-to-speech technology is a cost-effective alternative to using voice actors and robotic voices. With ReadSpeaker’s suite of learning tools, you can easily create and manage your own speech-enabled course content. The cloud-based technology allows you to deliver high-quality, lifelike voices.

Most implementations require minimal staff hours to maintain and implement. Most major LMS platforms offer a variety of plug-ins that can be easily turned on.

With the help of TTS-enabled courses and assessments, educational institutions can provide a bi-modal presentation to their students. They can read content aloud while students follow the highlighted text, allowing them to absorb and engage in the lessons in various ways.

Conclusion

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a powerful tool that can help improve digital accessibility, especially for teachers. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has developed a set of guidelines that help ensure that all web users have easy access to content. 

One of the criteria that the organization considers when it comes to implementing these guidelines is that the text should be easy to read.

In order to comply with the WCAG, you must provide a text that doesn’t require special skills to read. This is done through the use of text-to-speech.