Text to speech tools to address ADHD challenges

Text-to-speech apps can help children with ADHD learn to read and write. Read more to see top options available.

ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. While it is often diagnosed in childhood, even adults can be diagnosed with ADHD later in life. ADHD is recognized as an official disability in the U.S. and Canada. There are many symptoms of ADHD, which can include difficulty focusing or staying on task, hyperactivity, and impulsivity—to name a few.

It is important to note, however, that ADHD is not a learning disability, but rather a mental disability. At the same time, ADHD can still affect the ways in which a person learns best, and there is some research to suggest that 30-50 percent of children with ADHD have a learning disability in addition to ADHD.That being said, it‘s possible for children with ADHD to receive special education services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.

Whether you have ADHD or any other condition that can make focusing or reading difficult, such as  dyslexia, it’s important to know that there are options that can help address these challenges.

Text to speech and speech to text tools can help people with ADHD, as well as other conditions like dyslexia, learn to better read and write. Thankfully, many of these tools can be used in your web browser like Chrome and directly on any web page.

Text to speech and speech to text tools can assist students with reading and writing challenges

Again, ADHD is not a learning disability, but the challenge of focusing on reading and writing text for long periods of time can be a real obstacle for students with ADHD. This can be an even greater challenge for students who have both ADHD and dyslexia, which is not all that uncommon.

These two conditions share several symptoms, including:

• Motor skills deficits
• Naming speed deficits
• Information-processing speed challenges
• Working memory deficits

Since the conditions are similar in some ways, it’s sometimes possible for a child or adult with dyslexia to be misdiagnosed as someone with ADHD or vice-versa.

People with these conditions may have a hard time with reading because it could feel “boring” or difficult. They may have trouble with rhyming or low-effort, high-recognition words, leading to confusion and frustration.

On top of those issues, ADHD symptoms can include trouble paying attention or staying on task, which can be exacerbated if dyslexia is also present. Concentration and attention problems can make learning difficult, which is where different learning options and assistive technology can help.

Text to speech tools, as well as speech to text tools, can help children or other people with dyslexia or ADHD focus and learn as they complete tasks on iOS, iPad, in Microsoft Word, or when listening to articles. Using these tools can help improve reading comprehension, reading speed, and overall executive function as the individual adapts to new learning methods. This assistive technology can be used in school, in places of work, or in normal daily life.

Benefits of text to speech

There are many benefits of text to speech (TTS) software. As an accessibility tool, TTS software makes written and online text more accessible to many people. For example, your child might have a hard time learning when reading content in Google Docs because they are dyslexic. With just the push of a button, text to speech software changes the readable text into audible speech, so your child can listen to the words on the page instead of reading them entirely on their own.

People usually speak faster than they write or read, which means that people who have difficulty focusing  may be able to get through assignments more quickly when they can listen to information instead. For some people, learning by listening is easier than learning by reading, so their ability to retain knowledge that they’ve studied or gone over previously may be improved with TTS software.

People with conditions like  dyslexia or ADHD can additionally see improved mental health as a result of being able to keep up with classmates or work colleagues thanks to learning tools like TTS which can improve their understanding of written text. With the help of these kinds of programs in iOS or Android devices, they can now go anywhere and be used on nearly any document that exists today.

Speech to text for writing challenges

Some learners have reading difficulties while others struggle with writing. Speech to text is helpful for writing difficulties because it helps people see what their speech can look like in print. Many of the STT tools also include auto-corrective measures, so similar words can be ruled out as the sentence is formed or spelling errors may be corrected. For someone with dyslexia or difficulties with writing, this is a helpful way to produce more professional, accurate work with minimal stress.

There are several different STT tools and programs you can use if you want STT capabilities. The specific tool you choose will depend on where you want to use the program and the features that you’re looking for.

STT Tools and Programs

Some of the best STT tools and programs include:

Speechnotes

Speechnotes is an excellent speech to text program because it aids you with word prediction and support as you write. While it’s not always 100% accurate, it’s beneficial because you can speak faster than you can write in most cases. You can complete assignments faster as well as get the support you need to see what your text should look like. For people who have trouble with spacing or grammar, Speechnotes is a helpful tool.

On top of those benefits, you can use Speechnotes to send emails, save files, and more. It makes dictating your content, whether it’s for a paper or social media, simple.

Dictation.io

Dictation.io is another speech to text program that helps you get down your thoughts and put them on paper. This online program is free. All you have to do is click “start” and begin talking.

Once you have said everything you want to say, you can copy the content, save it, publish it to social media, Tweet your content, and more.

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is an official Microsoft product that makes it easy to take spoken audio and put it down into a text field. This program is free to try, but you will need to pay for the service later. 

Text to speech for reading challenges

A screen reader is the perfect tool to help those who cannot read clearly what’s on a page due to dyslexia or ADHD. Text to speech assistive technology will read aloud any page, whether it’s on your mobile device like an iPhone or through your web browser as a Google Chrome extension.

TTS Tools and Programs

There are several amazing TTS tools and apps to try. The three that you may want to look into include:

Speechify

Speechify is a text to speech program that provides natural sounding voices to help you listen to any written content. With Speechify TTS, you can maximize your time by listening two to three times faster than you could read it, or you can slow it down to improve comprehension. Best of all, the program comes with you, so you can listen to content on Android, iOS, or Windows. Whether you’re trying to scan homework to have it read aloud or need to have it go over a web page, it can handle the task.

NaturalReader

NaturalReader is another beneficial TTS tool that has a range of voices in its toolbar. It is an excellent aid for people with learning disabilities, because it helps with optical character recognition and can be used on your Chromebook, for example.

TextSpeech Pro

TextSpeech Pro is another download-only text to speech program that can go over your PDFs or HTML to provide you with the mp3 files you need to listen to your text aloud.

Text to speech and speech to text: Next steps

If you are interested in learning more about text to speech or speech to text software, we can help. Reach out to speak with us today at Speechify to learn more about how our text to speech program can help people with conditions like ADHD and dyslexia.

To learn more about ADHD, we recommend the following resources:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (National Institute of Mental Health)
• ADHD (Learning Disabilities Association of America)
• Is ADHD a Disability? Your Legal Rights at Work (Additude Magazine)
• A Parent’s Guide to ADHD & The Disability Tax Credit (Disability Credit Canada)

FAQ

Does text to speech help with ADHD?

Many people who have ADHD do benefit from using text to speech and speech to text programs. For those who struggle with concentration, listening may be easier. They may also improve their vocabulary and reading speed by reading the words while they listen.

Is Speechify helpful for ADHD?

Speechify is designed to help people with  disabilities including dyslexia, ADHD, concussion syndromes, low-vision acuity, and many others. Presently, hundreds of thousands of people use this program to help them read every day.

What technology helps ADHD?

Many people with ADHD benefit from using speech-recognition software, which records what they say to a digital document. This can help people express themselves more easily if they cannot write well or have difficulty with their fine motor functions. People with ADHD can also benefit from text to speech software to help them better focus on written content.

What is speech to text software for students with disabilities?

Speech to text software is a kind of assistive technology also known as dictation software. It helps those who have difficulty writing by listening to what they say and writing it down in a digital document. Instead of typing on a keyboard or using a writing utensil, anyone can simply speak into a microphone and have their words recorded as text.