Dear C.S.
Apart from programs that teach reading, computers with speech synthesizers can be useful tools for people with dyslexia. Macintosh computers come with built-in speech capabilities. Struggling readers can hear text out loud, useful for reading or proofreading. With some programs, the text can be highlighted word-by-word or sentence-by-sentence as it is spoken. Some people with dyslexia may have trouble interpreting the synthesized voice, since the melody and rhythm of the speech are different from a 'live' speaker.
Word-prediction programs can help people with dyslexia to write more fluently. These programs run along with a word processing program, and they make educated guesses about what the next word might be. The user can type the first letter or letters of the word, check a list of likely candidates, out loud if desired, and select the desired word. The process can be distracting, and writers need to be able to spell the first part of the word in order to use word-prediction programs effectively.
Best Wishes,
Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S.
Speech/Language Pathologist
