Since finding out Ella has dyslexia, we’ve been researching ways, tools and apps for dyslexia that can help her along the way. The following list includes my favourite choices and is mainly focused on primary (elementary) kids, but some are a must-have for kids of every school age.
If you have recently found out your child has dyslexia and are overwhelmed by the information, take a look at my dyslexia fact sheet which clearly lays out the signs, symptoms and ways as parents we can help our kids with dyslexia. No jargon, no confusion, just honest words.
Find the best tools for dyslexia here
READING/WRITING APPS FOR DYSLEXIA
Readability encourages your child to read aloud and listens while providing support and real-time pronunciations. If they are struggling, they can click on the speaker icon for Readability to read the selected passage/word for them. It automatically selects the correct level of reading material for every child so your child will be eager to learn. Watch your child develop as the fun and educational grade-level stories come to life with exciting illustrations.
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PDF files have caused problems for speech-to-text technology because they are image files. ClaroPDF has transformed the speech-to-text market as it recognises image text and reads it aloud with corresponding highlighting. Users can annotate, mark-up, listen and save PDF files that are fully compatible with other PDF apps. It’s a great tool and at just $9.99, well worth the money.
This is a great e-book app and completely free! The TalkBack feature available on Android provides text-to-speech complete with highlighting. While Google Play Books is also available for iOS devices, the Read Aloud feature is not available.
Dragon Anywhere is a dictation app enabling users to generate text through speech rather than typing. It can be used with social media as well as any document and takes the burden off typing. While it’s fairly basic regarding editing, it’s the perfect introduction. There is a free week trial and after that, it’s $14.99 per month.
Ghotit Real Writer helps people with dyslexia and dysgraphia with writing and editing. The app corrects incorrect spelling, homophones, grammar mistakes, punctuation and confused words as well as featuring an advanced word prediction function.
It is one of the more pricey apps at $69.99 for iPads and $49.99 for iPhones but it is also one of the best online tools for people with dyslexia on the market (in my opinion). The Android app is not available as of the time of writing but is currently being developed. (It is also available for Windows and Mac OS)
This tool helps kids of all ages spell problematic words. It’s as simple as touching the microphone icon, saying the word or phrase and viewing the correct spelling which is displayed in the preferred writing style. It is a great app for all ages and will help improve spelling and vocabulary, help with comprehension and assist students to become independent writers.
MATHS
Currently only available on iOS, ModMath helps students gain skills in maths from basic arithmetic to complex algebra. Students can type maths problems onto the iPad and the problem can be solved using the built-in touchpad, taking away the need for using long-hand. Work can be printed, saved to the cloud or emailed.
This is a free app using a cartoon character, Leo the Lion, to teach the basics of multiplication before carrying out simple tests in the form of races against Leo and another animal competitor. There is also a ‘say-it-loud’ activity where vocal responses are used.
GENERAL APPS FOR DYSLEXIA
Epic! is the leading digital library for children, offering access to more than 25,000 resources which include: ebooks, audiobooks, videos and quizzes. It’s a fun and interactive way to explore learning and reading and is suitable for children aged 12 and under. My kids LOVE Epic! They have spent lockdown reading, reading and reading some more! The ‘read to me’ function allows them to listen to the story while following along and the huge range of audiobooks are perfect for those quieter moments during the holidays.
This is an excellent resource for students of all ages as it lows the user to create their own flashcards for literally thousands of different topics. There is a free (and compulsory) membership after which, flashcards and study sets can be created. It is the ideal app for test prep, visual learning and improving memory and is also available for use offline. It’s a teacher-friendly resource that engages students in through text, audio and visual means which is a great help to anyone who has dyslexia.
This organizational app will help students of all ages coordinate their thinking by helping users to capture and organize information visually. It syncs to Dropbox and Google Calendar and is perfect for organising thoughts and ideas as well as study prep and planning.
Unfortunately, this game is only available on iOS, but it is a great way for parents to assess memory and listening skills. It uses games to assess working memory, phonological awareness, processing speed, visual sequential order, auditory sequential memory and visual memory. It’s structured into six 10-minute games and each activity is divided into three levels: elementary, high school and adult. After each game has been completed, users are given a score and information on the strengths and weaknesses. Each level can be repeated to improve the score.
For information on apps for dysgraphia, read my blog here
How can I tell teachers including special Ed teacher strategies to use for teaching random vocabulary words and not to use busy math worksheets.
I would start with some suggestions so that you’re offering alternatives as a solution.
I have a blog on teaching children with dyslexia to spell here: https://princessescanwearkickers.com/how-to-teach-a-dyslexic-child-to-spell/
And have also written a guide for teaching kids with dyslexia: https://princessescanwearkickers.com/teaching-a-child-with-dyslexia-top-tips/
In my opinion, by offering potential solutions to problems, people are far more inclined to listen.
Hope this helps!