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Text-to-speech (TTS) is an assistive technology that reads digital text aloud. It's sometimes called "read aloud" technology.

With a click of a button or the touch of a finger, TTS can take words on a computer or other digital device and convert them into audio. TTS is very helpful for kids who struggle with reading. But it can also help kids with writing and editing, and even focusing.

How Text-to-Speech Works

TTS works with nearly every personal digital device, including computers, smartphones and tablets. All kinds of text files can be read aloud, including Word and Pages documents. Even online web pages can be read aloud.

The voice in TTS is computer-generated, and reading speed can usually be sped up or slowed down. Voice quality varies, but some voices sound human. There are even computer-generated voices that sound like children speaking.

Many TTS tools highlight words as they are read aloud. This allows kids to see text and hear it at the same time.

Some TTS tools also have a technology called optical character recognition (OCR). OCR allows TTS tools to read text aloud from images. For example, your child could take a photo of a street sign and have the words on the sign turned into audio.

How Text-to-Speech Can Help Your Child

Print materials in the classroom-like books and handouts-can create obstacles for kids with reading issues. That's because some kids struggle with decoding and understanding printed words on the page. Using digital text with TTS helps remove these barriers.

Did you know that your child may be eligible for free digital text-to-speech books? Learn more.

And since TTS lets kids both see and hear text when reading, it creates a multisensory reading experience. Researchers have found that the combination of seeing and hearing text when reading:

Improves word recognition

Increases the ability to pay attention and remember information while reading

Allows kids to focus on comprehension instead of sounding out words

Increases kids' staying power for reading assignments

Helps kids recognize and fix errors in their own writing

Like audiobooks, TTS won't slow down the development of your child's reading skills.

Types of Text-to-Speech Tools

Depending on the device your child uses, there are many different TTS tools:

Built-in text-to-speech: Many devices have built-in TTS tools. This includes desktop and laptop computers, smartphones and digital tablets and Chrome. Your child can use this TTS without purchasing special apps or software.

Web-based tools: Some websites have TTS tools on-site. For instance, you can turn on our website's "Reading Assist" tool, located in the lower left corner of your screen, to have this webpage read aloud. Also, kids with dyslexia may qualify for a free Bookshare account with digital books that can be read with TTS. (Bookshare is a program of Understood founding partner Benetech.) There are also free TTS tools available online.

Text-to-speech apps: Kids can also download TTS apps on smartphones and digital tablets. These apps often have special features like text highlighting in different colors and OCR. Some examples include Voice Dream Reader and Claro ScanPen.

Chrome tools: Chrome is a relatively new platform with several TTS tools. These include Read&Write for Google Chrome and Snap&Read Universal. You can use these tools on a Chromebook or any computer with the Chrome browser. See more Chrome tools to help with reading.

Text-to-speech software programs: There are also several literacy software programs for desktop and laptop computers. In addition to other reading and writing tools, many of these programs have TTS. Examples include Kurzweil 3000, ClaroRead and Read&Write. See more examples of software for kids with reading issues.

How Your Child Can Access Text-to-Speech at School

It's a good idea to start the conversation with your child's teacher if you think your child would benefit from TTS. If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan, your child has a right to the assistive technology she needs to learn. But even without an IEP or a 504 plan, a school may be willing to provide TTS if it can help your child.

You can also use TTS at home. Try one of the tools above, or check out options for free audiobooks and digital TTS books. And learn more about assistive technology for reading.

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Text-to-Speech Technology: What It Is and How It Works

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Text-to-speech (TTS) is an assistive technology that reads digital text aloud. It's sometimes called "read aloud" technology. With a click of a button or the touch of a finger, TTS can take words on a computer or other digital device and convert them into audio. TTS is very helpful for kids who struggle with reading.

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Audio book
This aids with people who are physically disabled. It makes it more convenient for them to enjoy the pastime of books by making an audio version of the book.
https://www.audiobooks.com/

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Name of assistive media: http://www.audible.com/
Audible.com is a company made by amazon that allows users, specifically the blind, to be able to listen to audio recordings of books. In addition the voices of the prerecorded books have emotions and different characters so that the reader may feel and enjoy the book. Audible.com also has an application so that the user may listen to their books wherever they are and whenever they want. It also offers a wide selections of books to choose from so the reader may choose the book she or he prefers. The application also allows the user to navigate easily despite their disability.

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Assistive media: Hearing loop (or induction loop) https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders
A hearing loop is a hearing aid that helps people who have hearing problems. It acts as a wireless speaker.

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Assistive Media: Bookshare (Link: https://www.bookshare.org/cms/)

Description: This website (Bookshare) is for people with printing disabilities. This is important for people with printing disabilities or for those who cannot read due to visual impairment, physical disability or severe learning disability. This website offers different ways on how people with print disabilities can read, such as braille or audio books

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Assistive Media: Deaf Planet http://www.deafplanet.com/splash.php

Description: This website is intended for children to help learn and specializes in teaching deaf children through American Sign Language (ASL). While it also services hearing children, the websites features are catered specifically for deaf children.

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Assistive Media: Alexander Graham Bell For The Deaf and Hard Of Hearing http://www.agbell.org/
Description: This website provides service for the deaf and hard of hearing, such as resources on how to support and educate these kind of children. They also give peer-to-peer support and advertise about professionals such as speech pathologists and audiologists to help children with this condition.

Picture:

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Name: Text-to Speech (TTS)
Description: It is technology used for those who have visual impairments, especially for children who have trouble reading. This helps the user by reading aloud the digital text from laptops, computers, smartphones, tablets.
picture:

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Assistive media:  Electronic Braille Note Takers
Description: An Electronic Braille is a device used for the blind or visually impaired. Students can also use this device to answer homework or assignments, read books, and search internet.
https://www.slideshare.net/hamzaaaaaah/assistive-technology-for-students-with-visual-impairment-andautistic-disorder-submitted

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Assistive Media: Screen Readers (http://www.afb.org/default.aspx)
Description: Screen readers help visually impaired people to read texts that is shown in computer screens with the help of a braille display

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Name: audible an amazon company

Description: This site provides popular audio books such as New York Times Best sellers for people to have new and different ways to enjoy books. To add, people will be able to enjoy the stories from different kinds of books while doing work, chores etc.
Sources: http://www.audible.com/adblbestsellers

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Name of Assistive media: Text Telephone
Allows people with hearing difficulties to communicate with each other over phone lines to another text telephone device through a small keyboard hooked up on either end. This will allow users to type messages back and forth.
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-assistive-technology-communication-23137.html

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https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics/text-to-speech-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works
Assistive media: Text-to-Speech
Description: Text-to-Speech is sometimes called "read aloud technology" which allows children to hear the words as they read it. Some TTS tools can be found online (like Bookshare) or can be downloaded on smartphones (Voice Dream Reader).
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/

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Assistive Media: Voice Recognition Technology
Description: For people with arthritis or other cognitive disorders, it is difficult for them to use technology such as phones and computers because they are unable to type or move a mouse. Voice technology allows them to speak commands to a computer and have it respond accordingly.

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Example: Audio players and recorders
Importance: Helps children who struggle with writing or taking notes. Also aids those with Dyslexia. This device allows children to listen to words while they are reading it on the page. Many electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, have text-to-speech software that can read anything on the screen aloud.

Source: https://www.slideshare.net/JeanethVillapaa/assistive-media

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Assistive Media :
Screen reader and speech synthesizer or a refreshable braille display
(http://www.afb.org/info/accessibility/creating--accessible-computer-applications/25)
Screen readers and speech synthesizers help people who are blind and use the computers.They use these to help with their disabilities by using various strategies in customizing it to your needs. Modern screen readers do not simply "read" the screen. Rather they rely on an analysis of the screen to read certain portions and not others when the screen is first presented. The screen reader will, for example, attend to a system cursor or a highlight bar. Most importantly, the user is given tight control over reading discrete units of the screen, such as a window title bar, menu, or status line. The user can also silence speech when the information desired has been obtained.

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Assistive Media: Audio Books
Description: This assistive media allows the user to download audio version of a certain book which will make it more convenient for those who are physically disabled. It give the reader a hand-free reading experience and audio adventure. https://www.audiobooks.com/

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Assistive Media: FM Listening System (Frequency Modulation)
In a classroom setting, FM Listening Systems reduces background noise so the teachers voice is amplified. This enhances the speakers voice so as the audience can better hear or understand what is being said.

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Hearing Loop is a hearing aid that has much more advanced features than the traditional ones. The hearing loop serves as a wireless loudspeaker, that transmits clear, customized sound from inside their ears. The new "telecoil" feature in the Hearing Loop is the latest technology because it has never been used before until this project. The telecoil is a small coil within the hearing aid that gives clear sounds, sometimes most hearing aids can not do.

(http://hearingloop.org/)

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Assistive media: SCREEN MAGNIFIERS
Description: This assistive device interfaces with the computer's graphical output to enlarge the screen's content. This helps people with visual impairments to see small letters, unclear images etc. more clearly.

https://mediaaccess.org.au/digital-technology/what-is-assistive-technology-at

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Assistive Media:
http://wearecolorblind.com/

We Are Colorblind is a website by Tom van Beveren who is also colorblind. The website provides people who suffer from color blindness information on how to work with color and how to prevent mistakes in relation to color from happening. The website also informs others about what colorblindness and what they can do to help those who are affected by it.

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Assistive Media: Screen Enlargement
There are multiple softwares and apps that have screen enlargement as it can benefit those with sensory impairments, more specifically with eyesight. So that one may use computer technology or use the mobile phones properly, the software can zoom in to words and pictures.

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Assistive media: Text Telephone
Description: Assists hearing impaired people in communicating over phone lines with other TTY users by using a small wired keyboard to type their messages. Sometimes, the  Telecommunications Relay Service staff would call the hearing impaired, type the message of the speaker for the hearing impaired to read, then read aloud the typed message from the hearing impaired to the person he/she is talking to.

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Assistive Media: FM Listening Systems
Description: Frequency Modulation Listening Systems are a kind of assistive media as these allow people who experience difficulties with hearing and comprehending words to further understand the sound being produced around them. As these devices are being used, they are able to reduce background noise and amplify sound in order to allow the listener to comprehend what is being said. This is usually used for children who possess a hearing impairment as they go to class and need to listen to their teacher.
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/JeanethVillapaa/assistive-media

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An example of assistive media is the Frequency Modulation System. This is a useful system for students who have hearing impairment since it reduces unwanted or background noise in the classroom. It increases the volume of the teacher.

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Assistive media: closed captioning
One example of assistive media is closed captioning, which allows people who have hearing impairments to be able to enjoy watching movies and TV programs. It also gives them confidence in themselves, and they are able to reach their fullest potential.

Source: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/rehabtech/conditioninfo/Pages/device.aspx

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Assistive Media:  Voice Synthesizer(http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-assistive-technology-communication-23137.html)
This specially designed voice command allows people with motor skills impairment use computers. This will allow them to communicate and command the computer for certain actions despite their impairment.

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Assistive Media: FM System
Description: An FM System or Frequency Modulation System are assistive hearing devices that enhances one's capability of listening. It helps people with hearing impairments, is a portable, convenient device especially for people who use hearing aids, and excludes background noises inside of the room.

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Assistive Media: audiobooks.com

Audio books is a site where in people can download books that have an audio version. This is helpful for people who cannot read properly or need help in reading.

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Assistive media: voice control
Though it can be improved, this is helpful especially for people whose line of work involves oral communication. It is also convenient for those who prefer to use their voice rather than typing.

What are some types of assistive devices & how are they used? (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2017, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/rehabtech/conditioninfo/Pages/device.aspx

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Assistive Media: Text Telephone
Description: The text telephone allows people with hearing disabilities to be able to communicate over phone lines to another TTY device through a small keyboard hooked to it which allows users to type messages back and forth.

Source: Dowell, D. Examples of Assistive Technology for Communication. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-assistive-technology-communication-23137.html on July 31, 2017