Accessibility
A dyslexia reading app that highlights every word as it speaks
Losing your line mid-paragraph. Re-reading the same sentence three times. The research-backed fix is bimodal reading: hearing and seeing the words at the same moment.
Quick answer
The most useful combination for dyslexic readers is read-aloud audio plus synchronized word highlighting. ReadLens does both on any page you photograph: the voice reads while each word lights up, and you can tap any word to hear it again.
Why highlighting plus audio works
- A moving anchor for your eyes. The glowing word tells you exactly where you are, so line-skipping and place-losing mostly disappear.
- Sound-to-letter reinforcement. Seeing “thorough” at the precise moment you hear it strengthens the mapping dyslexic readers work hardest at.
- No comprehension tax. Decoding effort drops, so working memory is free to actually understand the material.
The catch with most tools: they need digital text
Immersive readers and browser extensions are great, until the thing you need to read is a physical worksheet, a form at the doctor’s office, a paper book, or a letter. ReadLens removes that limitation because it starts from a photo. If you can point your camera at it, you can have it read aloud with full highlighting.
How to use ReadLens as your reading support
- 01 Snap the page. Tap Snap a page and photograph the book, worksheet, or document. Clear handwriting works too.
- 02 Open the reader. The text appears in a clean, distraction-free layout.
- 03 Play and follow the glow. A natural voice reads while each word is highlighted in sync. If a sentence did not land, tap its first word to replay from exactly there.
- 04 Build a library. Everything you snap is saved, so recurring reading (a novel you are working through, weekly class handouts) accumulates in one place.
For parents and teachers
ReadLens turns any classroom material into accessible audio without waiting for a digital version from the publisher. Snap the worksheet before homework time and your child can work through it independently, hearing and seeing every word. The same approach helps adults at work with dense forms, contracts, and printed reports. ReadLens also complements VoiceOver and TalkBack by reaching printed material screen readers cannot see; more on that in who ReadLens is for.
Frequently asked questions
How does word highlighting help with dyslexia?
Synchronized highlighting gives your eyes a moving anchor while the voice supplies the words, reducing line-skipping and re-reading. Seeing and hearing each word at the same moment also reinforces the sound-to-letter mapping that dyslexic readers work hardest at.
Can ReadLens read printed books and worksheets, not just digital text?
Yes. ReadLens works from a photo, so any physical page works: books, worksheets, forms, letters, and handouts. Snap it and the app reads it aloud with every word highlighted.
Can I replay a sentence I missed?
Yes. Tap any word on screen and playback jumps straight to that point. You can replay a word, a sentence, or a whole page as many times as you need.
Try it yourself
Reading support that travels with you
ReadLens is free to download, with weekly free snaps and no account required.
