Text-to-speech programs
I have a problem when I go to therapy appointments. You see, although my verbal IQ is in the superior range (meaning, my vocabulary is good) my verbal fluency is “below average.” I have trouble with verbal communication, and I get frustrated. This is especially true in therapy when I’m expected to speak for what feels like long periods of time on sometimes difficult subjects. For many of the things I need to talk about, I just don’t have the words.
The solution is fairly simple. Although I struggle to speak, I can certainly type whatever is on my mind. Leigh and I sometimes have conversations where I type and she talks, sitting side by side (at least, we did in college). But this setup doesn’t work very well in therapy, where my therapist is across from me. I’d rather not pass the laptop back and forth… it’s slow and cumbersome and basically, it’s a pain.
So I set out to find Jtalk, the text-to-speech (TTS) program I used in college but had since deleted from my computer. Turns out it’s no longer available. Kate and I spent forever on the night before my therapy appointment trying to track down a good TTS. The problem was that they all used the same voice (Microsoft Sam), which sounded flat as could be and like he was underwater. It was terrible and hard to understand.
Finally, around 2 am, I found Language Reader. This program uses characters (my favorite is Merlin, the wizard) to talk, and their voices are pretty good. The only downside is that they’re all men.
Oh, and did I mention that, after having stayed up past 2 am to find said TTS, my therapist canceled on me early the next morning. At least I’m set for next time.
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That is wonderful you found the Language Reader. Although all AAC devices are great, they are not made for everyone; you have to find the one that is right for you. I’ve heard the Microsoft Sam voice, and you are right, he does sound like he’s talking underwater! I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Text to speech would be fantastic. I can type out my thoughts a lot easier than I can speak them too… part of it is because I HAVE to find words when typing, cannot rely on gestures or facial expressions or anything else to make my point clear. When I talk to people in person, I usually resort to both speech and something vaguely resembling a mish-mash of ASL and charades. LOL Where if I was writing, I could sit there and make faces at my computer until I wrote the word I could probably not say.