Using Read Aloud / Text to Speech to support accessible and inclusive content

By Heather Pennington and Alex Stewart, Learning and Teaching Academy

In an increasingly digital learning environment, creating content that is accessible to all learners is essential. Read Aloud and Text to Speech tools support learners who use assistive technologies and help staff review the clarity, structure and overall accessibility of the materials they produce. These features (built into Windows and many Microsoft 365 applications) convert text into spoken words, offering an additional way for users to engage with content.

Why use Read Aloud / Text to Speech tools?

Read Aloud tools help ensure your materials work effectively for a diverse range of learners by:‑intensive tasks.

• Providing an alternative way to access written content for those with dyslexia, visual impairments or other learning differences.
  • Supporting comprehension by allowing users to listen while reading.
  • Appealing to those who prefer auditory engagement or benefit from multimodal learning.
  • Reducing cognitive load during reading intensive tasks.
  • Enabling proofreading by highlighting unclear structure, inconsistent headings or long sentences.

Using Read Aloud while drafting or reviewing content is a simple way to check whether your document is well structured and logically organised. If it works when read aloud, it is more likely to work well for screen reader users too.

Read Aloud in Microsoft 365 (Office) for Windows

Microsoft Word
• Select Review > Read Aloud.
• The Immersive Reader (under View) offers additional support such as line focus, text spacing and colour customisation.

Microsoft Edge
• Use Immersive Reader on supported webpages and select Read Aloud to listen to articles, webpages and PDFs.

PowerPoint
• Add speaker notes and use Read Aloud during practice runs to refine clarity, pace and flow.

Voice Customisation Tips

Customising Read Aloud settings can make listening more comfortable and effective:
• Adjust reading speed and voice style in the Voice Options panel.
• In Word, go to Review > Read Aloud > Speech to change the voice and speed.
• Experiment with settings to find a voice that suits your listening preferences.

Using Pronunciation Tools in Word (Windows)

Word doesn’t provide a full pronunciation editor, but it does allow you to check how terms will be spoken:
• Highlight a word or section of text and select Review > Read Aloud.
This is particularly helpful for checking names, technical terms or discipline-specific vocabulary.

Read Aloud on Other Platforms

Adobe Acrobat Reader
• The Read Out Loud tool enables users to listen to PDFs.

Blackboard Ally
• Provides Alternative Formats, including audio versions of text-based content.

Mobile Devices
• Tools such as NaturalReader, VoiceOver (Mac) and TalkBack (Android) offer systemwide text to speech for reading apps, emails and webpages.‑wide text‑to‑speech for reading apps, emails and webpages.

Making the most of Read Aloud tools

To maximise benefits:
• Encourage students to use these tools during revision, close reading or when working with complex texts.
• Use Read Aloud for proofreading to catch issues that may be missed visually.
• Listen to your document to ensure it reads logically for assistive technology users.
Integrating these features into everyday academic practice helps create a more inclusive learning environment.

Contact Us

For support, please contact LTAcademy@cardiff.ac.uk.