Given their reading difficulties, dyslexic children are increasingly benefiting from educational accommodations to help them keep pace at school. Among the solutions available from a very young age is the reading pen, which helps them gain independence. Here’s how it works.
The role of the reading pen in managing dyslexia
Today, 8 to 10% of school-age children experience learning difficulties with reading and spelling. Slow and mentally exhausting, their reading prevents them from grasping the meaning of words and sentences. In primary school, this exercise can reveal dyslexia, or at the very least, prompt a diagnosis of the disorder.
Once this disability is recognised, children can benefit from support from a learning support assistant (AESH), but they can also benefit from specific accommodations, such as using a reading pen for the youngest among them.
About the size of a highlighter, the reading pen is held in the hand like an ordinary pen. All you have to do is slide it over the text so it can scan it and read each word aloud. Note that the pen can be fitted with headphones, so as not to disturb other pupils in class.
With this tool, the dyslexic child can understand the written text. Reading instructions for tests also becomes easier, saving time, reducing fatigue and lowering stress levels.
Three examples of reading pen models
The IRISPenTM Air 7 is a 28-gram reading pen that can be used by both right- and left-handed children (simply adjust this setting the first time you use it!). With a 4-hour battery life, it recharges via a USB cable. It can read aloud and translate text into more than 40 different languages.
The company Mysoft, for its part, offers a reading pen called the “Exam Reader”, which has the same features. Slightly heavier (48 grams), it also allows you to adjust the reading speed. Its voice synthesis is powered by optical character recognition.
Presented at CES2020, the OrCam Read stands out from its competitors thanks to its ability to scan an entire page in a single click (the “Full Page Capture” feature). Simply point it at the text for a few seconds and the device will continue reading on its own. Dyslexic users can also adjust the reading speed, up to 300 words per minute, to read a text quickly, or slow it down to leave room for daydreaming while reading a novel.
Don’t hesitate to discuss whether a reading pen would help your dyslexic child with one of the professionals on the Ora Visio platform, whether a speech therapist or an occupational therapist. Specialised in DYS disorders, they can offer you an informed opinion on this tool and, if needed, recommend the best-performing model for your child.
