Recommended Apps for Dyslexic Students

For students with dyslexia, work that requires reading and writing can be daunting, and it often saps the enjoyment out of school. Fortunately, more and more families and schools are discovering assistive technology (AT) and the ability it has to lessen stress and give children a greater sense of academic independence.

While many schools have folded technology into the classroom, students are also increasingly using their own smartphones and tablets. The built-in accessibility features (e.g., text-to-speech, dictation, word prediction) of mobile operating systems have made those devices extremely useful for dyslexic students, and the variety of AT-related apps flooding Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store raise the level of assistance to an even higher level.

This guide will give families (and teachers) information about apps that can help students with reading, writing, studying, and demonstrating their knowledge. The current price of each app is listed, along with its developer and availability for iOS, Android, or both..

Since reading is a portal to knowledge, students with dyslexia can be frustrated that difficulties decoding and understanding written words often get in the way of learning. Apps that read text aloud, especially those that highlight words as they go, can take decoding out of the equation and make reading a more pleasant and more productive experience. There are also apps that can read PDF documents aloud, apps that convert pictures of text to readable text through optical character recognition (OCR), and specialty apps that read text aloud using recorded human voices.

(Google; Android — Free)

This is a great e-book app for Android devices because it integrates with the operating system’s TalkBack accessibility feature in order to provide continuous text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting. It should be noted that Google Play Books is also available for iOS devices, but that version lacks the “Read Aloud” feature present in the Android app.

Key Features: integrated text-to-speech (“Read Aloud”) with synchronized highlighting, annotation tools

ClaroSpeak Plus https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/clarospeak-plus/id845128025?mt=8

(iOS $10.99)

Claro Speak+ is really a support for writing, but it contains within it an OCR function. This lets the user photograph any text, such as a reading book, or textbook, or any notice or printed sheet, and to convert the photoimage into plain text. This can be edited,exported,and listened to using the text-to-speech button.

Key Features: See below in the writing section for further information about the app

(Claro Software; iOS — $3.99)

Since PDF files are essentially images of documents, they present a problem for basic text-to-speech technology. ClaroPDF is an app that can recognize image text and read it aloud with synchronized highlighting. Unlike most OCR apps, it preserves the formatting of the original document.

Key Features: text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, annotation tools, ability to add audio and video notes, Dropbox integration

NaturalReader

(NaturalSoft; iOS — $9.99; Android — Free)

NaturalReader is similar to ClaroSpeak in its basic text-to-speech functioning. Text can be imported from other apps or placed directly into a blank document. The app also features auto-scrolling for longer documents. In addition, it has its own Internet browser that extracts just the text from Web pages for easier reading.

Key Features: text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, integrated Web browser, Dropbox integration

Prizmo

(Creaceed SPRL; iOS — $9.99)

Prizmo is a full-featured and accurate OCR app that has an attractive interface and is easy to use. Converted documents can be edited in a variety of ways, can be translated to different languages, and are collected on a visual bookshelf. They can be exported as either text or PDF documents and quickly opened in other apps. The integrated text-to-speech features speed control and synchronized highlighting.

Key Features: accurate OCR with multiple editing tools, text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, multiple options for sharing and exporting documents

Shakespeare in Bits

(Mindconnex Learning; iOS — $14.99 per play)

Shakespeare is alive and well in many schools, but the Elizabethan language of his plays can pose a major problem for students with dyslexia. The handful of plays available from Shakespeare in Bits (including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”) make the stories accessible by presenting them in a multisensory format. Text-to-speech is combined with scene animations, and students have the option to translate outdated words and phrases to modern English.

Key Features: text-to-speech, animated video, scene synopses, character descriptions, integrated note pad

Talk – Text toVoice

(Abast Multimèdia; Android — $2.80)

The Talk app is a basic text-to-speech tool for students who use Android devices. It can read a variety of text, such as website articles, stories from news apps, and copy-and-pasted email messages.

Key Features: text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, various visual and auditory settings, ability to export text as audio files

vBookz

(Mindex International; iOS — $4.99)

On iOS devices, a good option for reading e-books is the vBookz app. Books can be download from email attachments, Dropbox, and Google Drive, as well as from the app’s collection of free, open-source titles. The synchronized highlighting feature includes the option of using a unique magnifying glass instead of a traditional colored marker.

Key Features: attractive interface for e-books, text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, various visual and auditory settings

Voice Dream Reader

(Voice Dream; iOS — $9.99; Android — coming soon!)

Voice Dream Reader has become a favorite reading app for iOS users, and the Android version is currently in beta testing. It contains multiple visual and auditory options that make the reading experience completely customizable for each user. In addition to having the ability to read text from other apps, Voice Dream can also be synced with Bookshare, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Project Gutenberg. It has its own Web browser that can extract just the text from other distracting material found on many Web pages.

Key Features: text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, multiple visual and auditory options, Bookshare integration, annotation tools

Writing Apps

Writing can be challenging for anyone, but it can be extraordinarily problematic for students with dyslexia. Written expression can be hampered by difficulties with spelling, applying correct grammar, and remembering desired words. For mobile devices, there are apps that utilize word prediction, dictation, contextual spelling and grammar checking, and word retrieval tools to make the writing process easier. A crucial tool to allow students to by pass the dyslexia nightmare of encoding spellings is speech to text, and any text processor that uses te standard iOS or Android keyboard has this feature.

(Texthelp iOS $44)

A sophisticated text processor with a superb word prediction device that allows "try before you buy". In other words, you can listen to the suggestions before you decide which word you require. Accepts SIRI speech-to-text and plays back all writing with a single button press. Has a very useful homophone checker and speaking dictionary. Holding a finger on a word in the prediction bar gives a spoken definition. Exports to DropBox as well as usual options

Key features: text-to-speech and speech-to-text, two stage prediction bar at the side of the writing screen, homophone checker, talking dictionary.

ClaroSpeak Plus https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/clarospeak-plus/id845128025?mt=8

(Claro Software; iOS and Chrome netbooks $10.99)

A very easy to use and learn text processor that can also import pictures while writing, and has OCR built in. It speaks all text back with a single button press, has a word predictor that learns words you use regularly. Like iReadWrite, the word prediction allows listening to the word before choosing it. The app allows the use of the SIRI based speech-to-text to bypass spelling and writing issues. It also has "typing echo" which allows the writer to listen to the words as they write, a very important feature for dyslexic students as it is instant feedback and review of the accuracy of the writing.

Key Features: text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting, OCR from text images, conversion of text documents to audio files, two stage prediction bar, Dropbox integration, accepts speech-to-text, accepts images, typing echo.

Pictello

(AssistiveWare iOS. $30.99)

There are several excellent book writing apps for younger children, such as Book Creator, and 2Create a Story, but the most dyslexic friendly is Pictello. Like the others it is multipage, allows each page to have pictures or videos and text, and allows SIRI speech to text. However, it has additionally a feature that speaks back the text as it is produced, allowing instant feedback and review. This makes it ideal for young children with dyslexia or dysgraphia.

Key Features: Integrates images and text, provides text-to-speech as you write, allows SIRI speech-to-text, has a very easy to follow wizard for making books. Has excellent on-line tutorials at http://www.assistiveware.com/product/pictello/resources

Ginger Page

(Ginger Software; iOS — Free; Android — Free)

Sometimes, traditional spell-checkers do not catch every error in a piece of writing, such as when students use incorrect homonyms. Ginger Page is a word processing app with a contextual spelling and grammar checker. It looks at entire sentences as units while searching for errors. It also has a unique rephrasing tool that suggests better word choices for a piece of writing.

Key Features: contextual spell and grammar checking, rephrasing tool, text-to-speech for proofreading, integrated dictionary and thesaurus

Google Keyboard

(Google; Android — Free)

The onscreen keyboard of a mobile device is essential in the transformation of thoughts to written words. For Android users with dyslexia, the Google Keyboard provides both dictation and word prediction for spelling assistance in any app.

Key Features: dictation,

WriteOnline

(Cricksoft; iOS 8 or later -.>$33)

Includes speech feedback, word prediction and Wordbars giving instant access to specific words and phrases for their current writing task.) Can be set for word completion, next-word prediction, or multi-word prediction, depending on a student’s writing skills.

Key Features: highly customizable, multiple options for word prediction and auditory feedback

SnapType Pro

(Brendan Kirchner; iOS — $3.99)

Workbooks and photocopied worksheets can be problematic for students with dyslexia. During normal OCR, the formatting is often lost for fill-in-the-blank and matching exercises, a problem that makes it difficult to use AT to insert answers. SnapType solves that problem by giving users the ability to overlay text boxes on photos of worksheets. Students can then use a keyboard to place their responses in the correct spaces.

Key Features: the ability to use AT to respond to worksheet questions

Note-Taking and Study Skills Apps

Taking effective notes in class is important for both retention of new knowledge and preparation for quizzes and tests. The most effective notes for students with dyslexia (and indeed, for all students) are multisensory in nature and often contain images and audio notes in addition to text. There are several apps that make it easier to generate multisensory notes, along with apps that can be used to create multisensory electronic flashcards that promote effective, independent study.

Mental Note

(Zymbiotic Technologies; iOS — $4.99)

Mental Note is a full-featured note-taking app for Apple devices that allows students to create customized, multisensory notes. In addition to typing or dictating text, students can add voice notes, sketches, and photos.

Key Features: multiple visual options for notepaper, Dropbox integration, ability to protect notes with a password, ability to use tags to organize notes

Notability

(Ginger Labs; iOS — $5.99)

Notability is another option for multisensory note-taking. It is packed with features and options, including rich-text formatting, audio recording, sketching, and highlighting. In addition, students can add multiple forms of media, including photos, Web clips, and sticky notes. Completed notes can be exported to Dropbox and Google Drive and opened in other apps.

Key Features: audio recording, multiple options for creating and sharing multisensory notes

PaperPort Notes

(Nuance Communications; iOS — Free)

A third full-featured note-taking app is PaperPort Notes. It allows students to input and highlight text, draw diagrams, add audio recordings, and insert images from the photo app or the built-in Web browser. A standout feature is that it has OCR capabilities that give students the option of inserting editable text from photos of text.

Key Features: multiple options for creating multisensory notes, OCR, Dropbox and Google Drive integration

Multipurpose Apps

There are a handful of apps that perform multiple functions and can be used for various purposes. They include multisensory presentation apps, electronic graphic organizers, and tools that help with both reading and writing. Because they are typically more robust than the more common single-purpose apps, they can be particularly useful for students who rely on mobile devices to complete their schoolwork.

(iOS, Android under $5)

A remarkably multi-featured app for older students that is multipage, allows drawing and painting, writing (including SIRI speech to text), photographs and videos, recording of voice and sound, importing of multipage PowerPoint and PDF documents, exporting as display document, as YouTube videos etc.

Key Features: multi-page including sorter to re-order pages, drawing tools, shapes tools, colour controls, imports pictures and videos, allows onscreen recordings, allows speech-to-text, allows imports from PowerPoint and multipage pdf docs, exports in multiple forms including YouTube video, has easy-to-use visual filing system.

Adobe Voice

(Adobe; iOS — Free)

Adobe Voice provides an elegant alternative to traditional slideshow presentations for students with dyslexia. While the app gives the option of including written text, each presentation is based on voice narration and images. Once a series of slides is created, the app transforms it into an animated video with background music.

Key Features: a means of presenting information verbally, ability to save completed videos to the photos app for easy sharing

Mindmeister

(MeisterLabs; iOS — Free; Android — Free)

A second option for creating electronic graphic organizers for both iOS and Android devices is the Mindmeister app. It has multiple visual options for creating customized diagrams, which can be exported as PDF, PNG, and RTF files, as well as converted to Word and PowerPoint documents.

Key Features: integration with the Web-based Mindmeister graphic organizing tool

Planning Apps

An advantage of using these apps is that they are similar to the PC versions, and many students are familiar with them, but they can distract those with limited working memory because of multiple choices of display types and images.

(Inspiration Software; iOS — $9.99)

There are many uses for electronic graphic organizers, and their multisensory nature makes them ideal learning tools for students with dyslexia. Inspiration Maps makes the writing process easier and more efficient. It can also help students improve their reading comprehension and study skills. It easily converts visual diagrams to linear outlines, and the app contains many formatting options that allow users to customize their work.

Key Features: multiple pre-made templates, ability to create personal templates, integration with desktop Inspiration software

Kidspiration Maps

(Inspiration Software; iOS — $9.99)

Kidspiration Maps targets elementary-aged students. It shares most of the features and functionality of Inspiration Maps, but it is more visually pleasing to younger eyes. It also adds a few unique features, such as several subject-specific activity templates.

Key Features: multisensory graphic organizers for elementary students, activity templates

Simple Mind

(iOS Android Mac and Windows. About $6)