I’ve previously written a post discussing five different apps for students with dyslexia a couple years ago.  Because dyslexia affects more than 20% of the U.S. population, I wanted to revisit the topic and provide five more apps that may benefit these individuals.

Dyslexia “is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities”.  Further, it’s important to note that dyslexia is not due to either lack of intelligence or desire to learn.  Other facts of dyslexia include:

• Dyslexia can affect spoken language, written language, and language comprehension
• The word dyslexia is derived from the Greek word ‘dys’ (meaning “poor” or “inadequate”) plus ‘lexis’ (meaning “words” or “language”)
• Dyslexia does not reflect an overall defect in language, but rather a “localized weakness within the phonologic module of the brain.  This module is the functional part of the brain where the sounds of language area put together to form words and where words are broken down into sounds.”
• Some of the most brilliant minds are believed to have had dyslexia such as Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and more.
• Click here to view even more facts on dyslexia!

5 Apps for Individuals with Dyslexia:

Now that we’ve briefly discussed what dyslexia is, it’s time to dive into a handful of apps to help those affected by it.

1. Root Words:

The Root Words dictionary app helps individuals improve vocabulary by breaking down words root by root.  In addition to providing root words, it also offers helpful explanations and examples.

Features of Root Words:

• Can be used offline
• Option to add important root words to Favorite list
• Search using the intuitive search functionality
• Flashcards for quick practice
• Multiple choice tests
  • After each test, a summary will be displayed indicating your marks and percentage
• Once you feel you’ve mastered specific root words, you can add them to the Mastered list so you can practice other words

2. Lectio:

We’ve mentioned this app several times on this blog before, but it’s worth bringing up again.  Lectio is an assistive app designed for individuals with a language-related learning disability.  Co-Founder and CEO of Lectio, Kris Parmelee, has a son who was diagnosed with dyslexia.  After many failed techniques and therapies, she eventually came up with the app to help others in the classroom or at home who simply needed a little help.

Features of Lectio:

• Portable and discreet
• No internet connection required
• Promotes independent reading
• Lectio is not intended for use by younger children who are still learning to read.  Rather, it’s designed for students who have learned to read and are now reading to learn
• Easy to use – no scanning or preloading documents into a program
• Can also benefit those with low vision and those learning English for

3. Dyslexic Note:

Dyslexic Note is “the original notetaking app specifically built for dyslexic students”.  The developer of the app’s number one priority has always been users with dyslexia.  It is an app featuring a basic interface that allows users to quickly and effortlessly take notes.

Features of Dyslexic Note:

• Users can easily type notes and convert bodies of text using OpenDyslexic, a font specifically designed to benefit those with dyslexia
• Font size and background colors are customizable
• Ability to easily and quickly organize your notes

4. Ghotit Real Writer:

While this is one of the most expensive apps on the list, it’s also jam-packed with several features to benefit persons with dyslexia.  In sum, it’s an app that corrects misspelled words, confused words, homophones, grammar, and punctuation.

Features of Ghotit Real Writer:

• Phonetic and context-sensitive spell checker
• Word prediction with grammar and phonetics awareness
• Quick spell word prediction with instant correction for creative writers
• Speech feedback allows users to speak as they write
• Importing and sharing of text with other iPad apps
• AirPrint compatible
• Text correction requires internet connection; all other features work offline

5. Easy Spelling Aid:

Easy Spelling Aid is a more recent addition to the list of apps.  It is a tool that helps individuals spell challenging words by using only their voice.  Additionally, the software recognizes a variety of accents and is “fine-tuned to pick up on children’s voices” making it suitable for users of all ages.

Features of Easy Spelling Aid:

• Improves literacy performance and spelling
• Helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary
• Provides children and adults alike a quick and easy way to find the spelling of a word independently
• Helps children learn homophones and understand word usage by using context
• Personalizable settings (e.g. writing style, background, etc.)