title: Effects of text-to-speech software use on the reading proficiency of high school struggling readers.
abstract: The literature highlights the benefits of text-to-speech (TTS) software when used as an assistive technology facilitating struggling readers' access to print. However, the effects of TTS software use, upon students' unassisted reading proficiency, have remained relatively unexplored. The researchers utilized an experimental design to investigate whether 9th grade struggling readers who use TTS software to read course materials demonstrate significant improvements in unassisted reading performance. A total of 164 students of 30 teachers in Hawaii participated in the study. Analyses of covariance results indicated that the TTS intervention had a significant, positive effect on student reading vocabulary and reading comprehension after 10 weeks of TTS software use (average 582 minutes). There are several limitations to the study; however, the current study opens up for discussions and need for further studies investigating TTS software as a viable reading intervention for adolescent struggling readers.
authors.affiliation: a Center on Disability Studies , University of Hawaii Manoa , Honolulu , Hawaii , USA.
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: a Center on Disability Studies , University of Hawaii Manoa , Honolulu , Hawaii , USA.
authors.forename: Kiriko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: a Center on Disability Studies , University of Hawaii Manoa , Honolulu , Hawaii , USA.
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: a Center on Disability Studies , University of Hawaii Manoa , Honolulu , Hawaii , USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delise
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012984:Software
keywords: adolescent struggling reader; assistive technology; intervention; reading; text-to-speech