How Dyslexics Can Benefit from Using Ebook Readers

When you hear the word dyslexia, the first thought that comes to your mind may be some type of inversion such as reading backwards.

However, dyslexia is more than just that. Dyslexia is a disorder that refers to people with normal intelligence levels who have trouble reading. Though it affects about one in twenty people, the cause has remained somewhat elusive. For treatment, researchers have discovered that the most effective way for dyslexics to become more efficient at reading is to read more.

As such, the search for ways that have the potential to make reading easier for dyslexics has undoubtedly become a primary focus. With technology on the rise in the quest for helpful tools, it should come as no surprise that ereaders were sought out as a viable prospect.  The conclusion: ebook readers permit certain digital alterations that can improve the reading comprehension of those who struggle with dyslexia in a variety of different ways.

The ability to customize ebook readers makes them an optimal tool for helping those who battle dyslexia. Think about it, a physical book that’s been printed with ink on paper and bound by a hard cover is not too customizable. Plain and simple, with a hard copy of a book, you get what you get.  However, when an ebook reader is used, the ability to change the layout of the book is right at your fingertips. 

Ebooks have features that help dyslexic readers

Here are just a few of the many customizations of ebook readers that can benefit the reading experience of dyslexics:

Text Spacing. Character spacing can play a significant role in the ability or inability for dyslexics to decipher words correctly.   With ebook readers, this is no longer a concern.  Ebook text can be spaced two or three words per line, which can significantly increase the reading speed and comprehension of dyslexics. By changing the text spacing of an ebook, people with dyslexia are able to read the book without getting the letters confused. And with less visual disorder, it becomes much easier for a person with dyslexia to concentrate on the task in front of them.

Letter Size. Another nifty alteration capability with ebook readers is the text size.  Readers have the option of increasing or decreasing the size of the letters in their ebook.   Studies have shown that those who suffer from dyslexia are able to reach their maximum reading speed at a letter size bigger than that required by others who do not have the disorder. So, when passages are presented in progressively larger letters, this factor can affect how quickly and easily dyslexics are able to read.

Font Type. The ability to change the font type is another way that ebook readers can help those with dyslexia improve their reading skills. There are actually certain fonts specifically designed for dyslexic readers, making letters such as “b” and “d” harder to confuse with each other. Altering these fonts can play a significant role in a dyslexic person’s ability to read with difficulty or with ease.

With the advent of ebook readers, creating a document that is dyslexia-friendly can easily be accomplished.  Changing the letter spacing, adjusting the font size and limiting the number of words you see when you read onscreen can happen with just a few taps of your finger. While playing around with the size, spacing, and look of letters is not a direct cure for dyslexia, such manipulations are able to help dyslexics read with more ease and more pleasure.