Skip to main content
Top
Published in:

20-10-2022 | Original Paper

The Impact of Text-to-Speech on Reading Comprehension of Students with Learning Disabilities in an Urban School

Authors: Tolulope Sulaimon, John Schaefer

Published in: TechTrends | Issue 2/2023

Login to get access

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

An A-B-A-B withdrawal design was used to explore the effects of a text-to-speech (TTS) program (Read & Write Gold 11) on reading comprehension scores for two fourth-grade students with learning disabilities in an urban school. For each session, students used the TTS program to read a fourth-grade-level comprehension passage. The number of correct comprehension questions was measured. All participants’ scores increased when the TTS program was introduced. Additionally, a Likert scale questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ perception of the TTS program. Results showed that the participants found the TTS program easy to use with little or no support. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed in this paper.
Literature
go back to reference Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2009). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America. Teachers College Press. Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2009). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America. Teachers College Press.
go back to reference Elkind, J., Cohen, K., & Murray, C. (1993). Using computer-based readers to improve the reading comprehension of students with dyslexia. Annals of Dyslexia, 43(1), 238–259.CrossRef Elkind, J., Cohen, K., & Murray, C. (1993). Using computer-based readers to improve the reading comprehension of students with dyslexia. Annals of Dyslexia, 43(1), 238–259.CrossRef
go back to reference Forgrave, K. E. (2002). Assistive technology: Empowering students with learning disabilities. Clearing House, 75(3), 122.CrossRef Forgrave, K. E. (2002). Assistive technology: Empowering students with learning disabilities. Clearing House, 75(3), 122.CrossRef
go back to reference Gast, D. L., & Ledford, J. R. (2014). Single case research methodology: Applications in special education and behavioral sciences. Routledge.CrossRef Gast, D. L., & Ledford, J. R. (2014). Single case research methodology: Applications in special education and behavioral sciences. Routledge.CrossRef
go back to reference Higgins, E. L., & Raskind, M. H. (1997). The compensatory effectiveness of optical character recognition/speech synthesis on reading comprehension of postsecondary students with learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 8(2), 75–87. Higgins, E. L., & Raskind, M. H. (1997). The compensatory effectiveness of optical character recognition/speech synthesis on reading comprehension of postsecondary students with learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 8(2), 75–87.
go back to reference Izzo, M. V., Yurick, A., & McArrell, B. (2009). Supported e-text: Effects of text-to-speech on access and achievement for high school students with disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 24(3), 9–20.CrossRef Izzo, M. V., Yurick, A., & McArrell, B. (2009). Supported e-text: Effects of text-to-speech on access and achievement for high school students with disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 24(3), 9–20.CrossRef
go back to reference Rasinski, T. (2017). Fluency matters. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 7(1), 3–12. Rasinski, T. (2017). Fluency matters. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 7(1), 3–12.
go back to reference Schmitt, A. J., Hale, A. D., McCallum, E., & Mauck, B. (2011). Accommodating remedial readers in the general education setting: Is listening-while-reading sufficient to improve factual and inferential comprehension? Psychology in the Schools, 48(1), 37–45. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20540CrossRef Schmitt, A. J., Hale, A. D., McCallum, E., & Mauck, B. (2011). Accommodating remedial readers in the general education setting: Is listening-while-reading sufficient to improve factual and inferential comprehension? Psychology in the Schools, 48(1), 37–45. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​pits.​20540CrossRef
go back to reference Uysal, P. K., & Bilge, H. (2019). An investigation on the relationship between reading fluency and level of reading comprehension according to the type of texts. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 11(2), 161–172. Uysal, P. K., & Bilge, H. (2019). An investigation on the relationship between reading fluency and level of reading comprehension according to the type of texts. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 11(2), 161–172.
Metadata
Title
The Impact of Text-to-Speech on Reading Comprehension of Students with Learning Disabilities in an Urban School
Authors
Tolulope Sulaimon
John Schaefer
Publication date
20-10-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
TechTrends / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 8756-3894
Electronic ISSN: 1559-7075
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00800-2

Other articles of this Issue 2/2023

TechTrends 2/2023 Go to the issue

Premium Partner