Dyslexia Reading Modes Deep Dive
Bionic Reading, Syllable Highlighting, and Grammar Colour-Coding explained with examples.
Overview
Dyslexia Mode transforms how text appears on screen to make reading easier. Choose from three specialised modes, each designed to address different reading challenges.
Who benefits most: Readers with dyslexia, visual processing difficulties, or anyone who finds dense text challenging to decode.
The Three Modes
Bionic Reading
How it works: Bolds the first portion of each word, creating artificial fixation points that guide your eyes.
Example:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Why it helps:
- Eyes naturally lock onto bold letters
- Brain fills in the rest of the word
- Reduces saccadic eye movements
- Creates consistent reading rhythm
Best for:
- Speed reading
- Long-form content
- Users who skip or repeat words
- Those who lose their place easily
Syllable Highlighting
How it works: Colours alternating syllables differently, making word structure visible.
Example:
The quick brown fox jumps over
Why it helps:
- Reveals word structure visually
- Supports phonetic decoding
- Makes unfamiliar words less intimidating
- Builds phonemic awareness
Best for:
- Phonetic learners
- Learning to decode new vocabulary
- Building reading fluency
- Younger readers
Grammar Colour-Coding
How it works: Colours words by part of speech — nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. use different colours.
Colour scheme:
| Part of Speech | Colour |
|---|---|
| Nouns | Blue |
| Verbs | Red |
| Adjectives | Green |
| Adverbs | Orange |
| Prepositions | Purple |
| Conjunctions | Brown |
| Pronouns | Teal |
Why it helps:
- Reveals sentence structure
- Aids grammatical understanding
- Supports language learners
- Makes patterns visible
Best for:
- Language learners
- Understanding sentence structure
- Grammar study
- Writing improvement
All Settings Explained
Dyslexia Mode has one setting: which of the three shapings is applied. They are three radio buttons under How text is shaped, so exactly one is active at a time.
| Option | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Syllable colours | Alternating colour backgrounds break each word into syllables | Yes |
| Grammar colours | Colours words by part of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives | |
| Bionic reading | Bolds the opening letters of each word to lead the eye |
There are no sub-settings for bold percentage, colour scheme, saturation or minimum word length. Pick a shaping, read a page with it, and if it does not suit you pick another.
Why Syllable colours is the default: the evidence behind bionic reading is weaker than its popularity suggests, so it is offered but is not what AssisT starts you on.
Step-by-Step Setup
Enabling Dyslexia Mode
- Click AssisT icon in toolbar
- Expand Reading Help section
- Toggle Dyslexia Mode ON
- Select your preferred mode
- Adjust intensity as needed
Quick Toggle
Press Alt+Y to toggle Dyslexia Mode on/off with your last-used settings.
Common Use Cases
Reading Textbooks
Recommended: Bionic Reading
Settings:
- Intensity: Medium
- Bold percentage: 50%
- Apply to all pages
Why: Long academic text benefits from consistent eye guidance. Bionic keeps momentum without requiring active decoding.
Learning New Vocabulary
Recommended: Syllable Highlighting
Settings:
- Apply to unfamiliar words
- High brightness for visibility
- Combine with Dictionary lookup
Why: Seeing syllable breaks helps you sound out and remember new words.
Grammar Homework
Recommended: Grammar Colour-Coding
Settings:
- All parts of speech coloured
- Show legend: On
- Medium saturation
Why: Visualising sentence structure helps identify subjects, predicates, and modifiers.
General Reading Fatigue
Recommended: Bionic Reading (Light)
Settings:
- Intensity: Light (30%)
- Min word length: 4
- Apply subtly
Why: Even light bionic formatting reduces cognitive load without dramatic visual changes.
Combining with Other Features
Dyslexia Mode + TTS
- TTS reads text while Dyslexia Mode helps you follow along
- Word highlighting from TTS combines with dyslexia formatting
- Dual sensory input (visual + auditory) reinforces comprehension
Dyslexia Mode + Reading Guide
- Horizontal ruler tracks the line
- Dyslexia formatting helps read each word
- Together they prevent losing your place horizontally and vertically
Dyslexia Mode + Text Customisation
- Use OpenDyslexic font with Bionic mode
- Increase line spacing with Syllable mode
- Adjust colours to complement Grammar colouring
Troubleshooting
Text Looks Too Busy
Solutions:
- Switch from Strong to Medium or Light intensity
- Use Bionic mode (simplest visual)
- Increase min word length to skip short words
- Try on shorter content first
Syllables Seem Wrong
Solutions:
- Syllable detection is algorithmic — won’t be perfect
- Works best on common English words
- Technical terms may not split correctly
- Focus on the reading benefit, not perfect accuracy
Grammar Colours Are Confusing
Solutions:
- Reduce to fewer parts of speech (nouns + verbs only)
- Lower saturation for subtler colours
- Use show legend option for reference
- Grammar detection has limitations with complex sentences
Mode Doesn’t Apply to Some Content
Solutions:
- PDFs and images can’t be transformed
- Some dynamic websites reload and reset formatting
- Try Reading Mode first, then apply Dyslexia Mode
- Some heavily styled sites may resist changes
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Alt+Y | Toggle Dyslexia Mode |
For Educators & Parents
Choosing the Right Mode
| Student Profile | Recommended Mode |
|---|---|
| Struggles with letter reversals | Bionic Reading |
| Difficulty sounding out words | Syllable Highlighting |
| Learning grammar concepts | Grammar Colour-Coding |
| General reading fatigue | Bionic Reading (Light) |
| Language learner | Grammar Colour-Coding |
Classroom Implementation
- Introduce one mode at a time — Don’t overwhelm with options
- Let students experiment — Preference varies significantly
- Use consistently — Benefits compound with regular use
- Combine with other supports — TTS, larger text, etc.
Assessment Accommodations
Dyslexia Mode can be used during:
- Online tests and quizzes
- Reading assignments
- Timed assessments
Settings don’t affect answer content — only visual presentation.
Not a Diagnostic Tool
Dyslexia Mode helps many readers, not just those with diagnosed dyslexia. Don’t use response to these tools as a diagnostic indicator.
Related Features
- Reading Help — Dyslexia Mode overview
- Text-to-Speech Deep Dive — Combine with TTS
- Text Customisation Deep Dive — Font and spacing options