Ask HN: Is it okay to use text to speech if you struggle with reading? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Is it okay to use text to speech if you struggle with reading?

2 pointsecmucele3 comments

There's Microsoft Edge browser's read aloud feature, and paid Speechify browser extension.

Does anyone use stuff like this? Does it make reading easier or more within reach for you? Do you have dyslexia by any chance? I don't think I have dyslexia, or maybe a little, but do struggle with reading a little. Can I reliably use this, and will it make reading easier for me?

Where I was worried about reading long text this seems like it has the potential to make a difference and make the task of reading and getting through text easy for me. But I wanted to ask someone who can maybe tell me for sure that it probably will. Thank you.

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How could strangers online possibly know? Why don't you try it yourself (they're free) and see if it works for you, or ask a health professional if you want to be tested for dyslexia etc.?

I can't figure out if it's something I can use, or if it's reliable for people.

It seems like it potential to make my life a lot easier and a lot more effortless, that's why it's something I wanted to find out about.

Is there someone I can see in person maybe who can show me how to use text to speech or get used to it.

I have Edge; browser's real aloud feature, and I'm currently paying for Speechify with 50% discount in case Edge does play nice with some websites, and I'm paying for Natural Reader in case I ever need to go through long PDFs.

I have no problem reading for IT. But I could maybe text to speech could have potential to make it easy for me to read related to programming, which is the main kind of reading I was worried about.

I would really lots of appreciate some help on this. I would love it if reading related to programming was super easy for me. Lots of thank you.

I thought some programmers here might be dyslexic and they might use it. Speechify's CEO says it helped him go from not being able to read to being at the top of his classes in college, but I don't know if it will work as wonderfully for me too for programming jobs.

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