Text Synched With Audiobooks Improves Reading (NAPSA)Formillions of stu- dents with learning disabilities like dyslexia, reading is often greatly improved when they can hear and see the printed word at the same time. Specialists report that listening to audiobooks while following the printed text allows many of these readers to take in information and enjoy learning without struggling over each word. Paul B. Yellin, M.D., founder of The Yellin Center for Mind, Brain, and Education, describes the process: “Many children understand language that they hear at a higher level than language they read on their own. Audiobooks allow children to access information at this higher level. And very often, reading skills are best improved if the listener follows along with the written text.” Dr.Yellin points to new formats like VOICEtext from Learning Ally, which highlights each sen- tence on-screen as a human nar- rator reads it, makingit easier for readersto follow along. “Having the ability to actually see a word highlighted while hearing it readallows a child to access content by reinforcing the linkage between ‘how a word looks’ with ‘how a word sounds’ and supports the development of independent readingskills,” he says. Whitney D. Hall, Ph.D., a psy- Many children understand language that they hear at a higher level than language they read on their own. How Text Synched with Audio Improves Reading * Improves skills for decoding each sound in a word Enforces letter-sound associations Improvessight word recognition Enhances vocabulary Increases comprehension Learning Ally, a national non- profit, maintains the world’s largestlibrary of human-narrated audio textbooks for students with disabilities. More than 80,600 titles Gincluding almost 2,000 of its most popular selections in the new VOICEtext format) are downloadable to smartphones, tablets and computers that students use every day. “Combining humanspeech with synchronized text in an audiobook is ideal for many students’ partic- ular learning profile,” says Dr. assessment, agrees, saying, “The Yellin. “And by using narrators who benefit of adding on-screen text provide accurate tone and inflecthat is highlighted in synch with tion throughout the book, Learning the narration is that this more Ally audiobooks can improve underclosely simulates the act of read- standing for the reader.” For information on Learning ing. Following along while hearing the material narrated allows a Ally’s affordable memberships for child to practice using their read- families and schools, visit www. LearningAlly.org/Join. ing skills.” chologist specializing in cognitive
