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Reading Help

Text-to-Speech, OCR, Reading Mode, and Dyslexia Mode — tools to make reading easier.

What’s in This Section

Reading Help provides tools for anyone who finds screen reading tiring, difficult, or overwhelming. Whether you prefer listening to reading, need text extracted from images, or want a cleaner reading environment.

Features: Text-to-Speech, OCR, Reading Mode, Dyslexia Mode

Text-to-Speech (TTS)

What It Does

Reads any text aloud with synchronized word highlighting. Select text and click the speaker icon, or use keyboard shortcuts to read entire pages.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Expand Reading Help section
  3. Toggle Text-to-Speech ON

Using TTS

Read selected text:

  1. Highlight any text on a page
  2. Click the speaker icon in the highlight menu
  3. Text is read aloud with word-by-word highlighting

Read from any point:

  1. Click where you want to start reading
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space
  3. TTS reads from that point forward

Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Ctrl+Shift+SpacePlay/Pause
Ctrl+Shift+SStop

Quick Settings

  • Voice — Choose from available system voices
  • Speed — Adjust reading speed (0.5x to 2x)
  • Highlighting — Toggle word highlighting on/off
  • Highlight color — Change highlight color

Want more control? See Text-to-Speech Deep Dive for all settings.

OCR (Screenshot to Text)

What It Does

Extracts text from images, PDFs, and any part of your screen. Take a screenshot and AssisT converts the image to editable, readable text.

How to Enable

OCR is enabled by default. Just use the shortcut to start capturing.

Using OCR

  1. Press Alt+O to start screenshot mode
  2. Click and drag to select the area containing text
  3. Release to capture
  4. View extracted text in the popup modal
  5. Copy, edit, or have it read aloud

Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Alt+OStart screenshot capture
EscapeClose OCR modal
Ctrl+CCopy extracted text
SpacePlay/Pause TTS for text

Tips

  • Works on images, PDFs, and even text embedded in videos (paused)
  • Better lighting and contrast = better results
  • Can read multiple columns — captures left-to-right, top-to-bottom
  • Supports multiple languages

Reading Mode

What It Does

Strips away ads, sidebars, and distractions. Presents article content in a clean, customizable format optimized for reading.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Expand Reading Help section
  3. Toggle Reading Mode ON

Or press Alt+R on any article page.

Using Reading Mode

  • Enter: Press Alt+R or click the Reading Mode button
  • Exit: Press Escape or click the X button
  • Scroll: Use Space (down) or Shift+Space (up)

What It Removes

  • Navigation menus and headers
  • Advertisements and popups
  • Sidebars and related content
  • Social media widgets
  • Comment sections

What It Keeps

  • Article title and author
  • Main content and images
  • Essential formatting (headers, lists, quotes)

Customization

While in Reading Mode:

  • Change font and size
  • Adjust line spacing
  • Modify background color
  • Set text width

Dyslexia Mode

What It Does

Applies dyslexia-friendly text formatting to any webpage. Choose from three specialized reading modes:

ModeDescription
Bionic ReadingBolds first part of each word to guide eyes
Syllable HighlightingColors syllables differently for easier decoding
Grammar Color-CodingColors parts of speech (nouns, verbs, etc.)

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Expand Reading Help section
  3. Toggle Dyslexia Mode ON
  4. Select your preferred mode

Or press Alt+Y to toggle with your last-used mode.

Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Alt+YToggle Dyslexia Mode

Choosing a Mode

Bionic Reading — Best for:

  • Speed reading
  • Maintaining reading flow
  • Reducing eye jumping

Syllable Highlighting — Best for:

  • Phonetic learners
  • Breaking down unfamiliar words
  • Building decoding skills

Grammar Color-Coding — Best for:

  • Language learners
  • Understanding sentence structure
  • Identifying parts of speech

Want more details? See Dyslexia Reading Modes Deep Dive.

For Educators & Parents

Why Reading Help Matters

For students with dyslexia:

  • TTS provides auditory input alongside visual
  • Dyslexia modes reduce letter/word confusion
  • Reading Mode eliminates overwhelming visual clutter

For students with ADHD:

  • Reading Mode removes distractions
  • TTS maintains engagement
  • Progress tracking shows how far they’ve read

For English language learners:

  • TTS models pronunciation
  • OCR helps with inaccessible documents
  • Slower TTS speed aids comprehension

Classroom Tips

  1. Start with TTS — Most universally helpful
  2. Let students choose their Dyslexia mode — Preferences vary
  3. Use Reading Mode for assignments — Reduces distraction during reading time
  4. OCR for printed handouts — Makes paper documents accessible

Privacy Note

All Reading Help features work locally on the device. No text is sent to external servers.

Learn More