Read online with less effort
SyllableReader combines the tools that help most with dyslexia — text-to-speech, syllable breakdown, OpenDyslexic font, bionic reading and masking — into a single browser extension that works on every website you already use. Free to start, with more tools available on Pro and Elite.
| FEATURES THAT HELP WITH DYSLEXIA |
| Feature | Why it helps dyslexic readers | Available on |
| 🔊 Text-to-Speech | Hearing text read aloud while following highlighted words reduces decoding effort and improves comprehension. Every word is highlighted as it’s spoken. | Lite (free) |
| 🔤 Syllable Mode | Words spoken syllable by syllable — re·mem·ber, un·der·stand·ing — helps with both pronunciation and decoding. Seeing the internal structure of a word reduces the effort of reading it. | Pro, Elite |
| Aa OpenDyslexic Font | One click switches every webpage to OpenDyslexic, specifically designed to reduce letter-confusion errors (b/d and p/q reversals common in dyslexia). | Pro, Elite |
| B Bionic Reading | First letters of words are bolded. Your brain uses those anchors to process the rest of each word with less conscious effort. Many readers with dyslexia find long articles significantly easier in Bionic mode. | Elite |
| 🕶️ Masking Mode | Dark overlay with a spotlight on the current word. Eliminates the visual distractions that cause many dyslexic readers to lose their place or re-read sentences. | Elite |
| 📏 Focus Mode & Ruler | Focus Mode dims everything on the page except the current paragraph. The Reading Ruler places a coloured band across the current line. | Pro, Elite |
| ⚙️ Line & Letter Spacing | Increased spacing between lines and letters is one of the evidence-based adjustments that most reliably improves reading for people with dyslexia. | Pro (line), Elite (both) |
| USING MULTIPLE FEATURES TOGETHER |
Many users with dyslexia use several features at once. A typical setup:
- OpenDyslexic font on
- Syllable Mode on
- Focus Mode on
- TTS speed set to Normal or Slow
You can export this setup and import it on another device so you never have to configure from scratch. Export / Import Settings is available on Pro and Elite.
| TUTORING MODE — FOR READING PRACTICE |
If you’re working on reading fluency, or helping a child with dyslexia practise reading, Tutoring Mode provides structured word-by-word practice. The extension reads a word aloud. The reader repeats the word. SyllableReader scores accuracy using speech recognition. A summary shows progress at the end of the session. Private, patient, and available at any time. · Available on Elite.
| EVIDENCE BASE |
The features in SyllableReader align with published guidance on supporting readers with dyslexia:
- Phonological decoding support — syllable mode and TTS address the core phonological deficit associated with dyslexia
- Font design — OpenDyslexic is designed around research on letter-confusion errors
- Visual stress reduction — masking, focus mode and ruler address visual stress (Meares-Irlen syndrome) which co-occurs with dyslexia in some readers
- Bionic reading — anchored fixation points reduce saccadic eye movement effort
- Spacing — British Dyslexia Association guidelines recommend increased line and letter spacing for dyslexic readers
Note: SyllableReader is an assistive tool, not a medical device or therapeutic programme.
| FAQs — DYSLEXIA |
Does it work on school websites and Google Classroom?
Yes. SyllableReader works on any webpage with readable text, including Google Classroom, Wikipedia, and most educational platforms.
Can children use it independently?
Yes. Once installed, the toolbar appears automatically on every page. A child can press Play and adjust speed without needing to configure anything.
Does the OpenDyslexic font change pages permanently?
No. It activates when you click the button and reverts to the page’s original font when you deactivate it. No page is permanently changed.
Does it work offline?
Text-to-speech uses your browser’s built-in speech synthesis, which works offline. Syllable data is cached locally after first use.