Text to speech for dyslexia: how listening helps with reading and writing

Text to speech for dyslexia works by turning written words into spoken ones, so you can take in information by listening instead of decoding every word on the page. It can make reading less tiring, help with understanding longer texts, and, just as usefully, let you hear your own writing read back so mistakes are easier to spot. It isn’t a cure or a replacement for reading support, but for many dyslexic people it’s one of the most practical tools available.

What dyslexia is (and why listening helps)

The British Dyslexia Association describes dyslexia as “a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling”, and estimates that it affects around 10% of the population. Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. Many dyslexic people understand complex ideas easily when they hear them, but find that working out the words on a page takes a lot of effort.

That effort is the key. When reading means sounding out or double-checking word after word, there’s less mental energy left for the meaning. Listening takes much of that decoding load away, so your attention can go on what the text actually says.

How text to speech helps with reading

There are three main ways read aloud for dyslexia can make a difference:

• Less decoding load. You hear each word rather than working it out, which frees up attention for understanding.
• Better comprehension of longer texts. Hearing and seeing the words together (with highlighting) helps you keep your place and follow the thread of an argument.
• More stamina. Reading can be draining for dyslexic people. Listening, or reading along while listening, often means you can get through more before fatigue sets in.

What the research says

The evidence is encouraging but measured. A 2018 meta-analysis by Wood and colleagues in the Journal of Learning Disabilities pooled 22 studies of text to speech and read-aloud tools for students with reading disabilities. It found a small to moderate positive effect on reading comprehension (an average effect size of 0.35), while noting that results varied between studies and more research is needed.

In other words: text to speech helps many people, but how much it helps depends on the person, the text and how the tool is used. It works best alongside good teaching and reading support, not instead of it.

How text to speech helps with writing

Writing is where text to speech is often underrated. Many dyslexic people find it hard to spot their own spelling and typing mistakes, because the eye reads what you meant to write rather than what’s actually there. Hearing your writing read aloud breaks that habit.

An early study by Raskind and Higgins (1995) asked university students with learning disabilities to proofread their own writing in three ways: with a speech synthesis system that highlighted and spoke each word, with another person reading it aloud, and with no help. Using speech synthesis helped them find a significantly higher percentage of errors overall, including spelling, capitalisation and typing errors.

In practice, hearing your writing back helps you catch:

• Words that are spelled correctly but are the wrong word (their/there, form/from)
• Missing or doubled words
• Sentences that run on or don’t make sense
• Typos that a spellchecker misses

If you also struggle to get ideas onto the page in the first place, dictation (speech to text) is the tool for that. We explain the difference in text to speech vs speech to text.

Tips for getting the most out of it

A few settings make a big difference:

• Choose a voice you like listening to. You’ll hear it for a long time, so pick one that’s clear and comfortable. Modern AI voices are far easier on the ear than older robotic ones. You can hear MyVoice’s voices on our voice sampler.
• Start a little slower, then speed up. Many people begin below normal speed and increase it as they get used to listening. Slower speech often works better for proofreading; faster speech for skimming.
• Turn on word highlighting. Seeing each word light up as it’s spoken links the sound to the written word and helps you keep your place.
• Read along, don’t just listen. Following the highlighted text while listening gives you two routes into the meaning.
• Use headphones in shared spaces. It keeps things private in a library, classroom or open-plan office.

Dyslexia reading tools: built-in options vs apps

You may already have useful dyslexia reading tools without installing anything:

For step-by-step setup of the built-in tools, see our guide to how to use text to speech on iPhone and Android. If cost matters, our round-up of free text to speech covers what you can get without paying.

Assistive technology for dyslexia at school, university and work

At school and in exams

In the UK, schools can apply for exam access arrangements for eligible students under rules set by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). These can include a reader, a computer reader (text to speech software), a word processor or extra time. Arrangements are based on evidence of need and should reflect how the student normally works in lessons, so it helps to use text to speech regularly in class rather than only at exam time. Your school’s SENCo or exams officer can explain what applies.

At university

In England, the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) has been a route to funded assistive software such as text to speech for eligible students. However, in March 2026 the Department for Education consulted on proposals to remove DSA funding for most specialist assistive software categories, including text to speech, in favour of free general-purpose tools. The government said it would publish its response in autumn 2026. If you’re applying, check the current position on GOV.UK and with your university’s disability service, as what’s funded may change.

At work

Dyslexia can count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, and employers are expected to make reasonable adjustments. The government’s Access to Work scheme can help pay for support such as assistive technology software and training. Many workplaces also already have read-aloud tools built into the software staff use every day.

You can read more about how students use text to speech on our students page.

Where MyVoice fits

MyVoice is a text to speech app built around typing and listening. It’s most useful for dyslexic people in two ways:

• Hearing your own writing back. Type a message, an email draft or a paragraph of an essay, tap Speak, and hear exactly what you wrote. Live word highlighting shows each word as it’s spoken, which makes it easier to spot the one that’s wrong.
• Natural voices you’ll actually want to hear. MyVoice has 278 natural AI voices across 15 languages and 24 regional accents, plus on-device voices that work offline. You can adjust speed, and pitch for on-device voices, and change the text size.

It’s available now on Android, with iOS coming soon. The free plan includes on-device voices and 3,000 AI voice characters a month, and paid plans start at $2.99 a month (see pricing). For reading long documents or web pages, your device’s built-in tools or a dedicated reading tool will usually suit better, and many people use both.

FAQs

Is text to speech good for dyslexia?

For many people, yes. Research suggests a small to moderate benefit for reading comprehension on average, and it can make reading less tiring and proofreading more accurate. It works best alongside reading support rather than replacing it.

Does using text to speech stop dyslexic children learning to read?

Text to speech is usually used to give access to content (for example, a science text) while reading skills are taught separately. If you’re unsure about the balance for your child, talk to their teacher, SENCo or a specialist dyslexia teacher.

What speed should I use?

Start a little below normal speaking speed and increase it as you get comfortable. Slower is often better for proofreading; faster for getting through familiar material.

Can I use text to speech in exams?

In the UK, eligible students may be granted a computer reader or a human reader under JCQ access arrangements. The school applies, based on evidence of need and normal way of working.

Is there free text to speech for dyslexia?

Yes. Android and iPhone both have built-in read-aloud features, and many word processors and browsers include read aloud. MyVoice also has a free plan with offline voices.

This article is for general information. If you think you or your child may be dyslexic, a teacher, SENCo, GP or specialist dyslexia assessor can help with next steps.

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