--- title: "Dictation and read-aloud for dyslexia: writing by voice and proofreading by ear on a Mac" description: "A two-way workflow many people with dyslexia use: speak your writing instead of spelling it, then listen to it read back to catch mistakes. The free Mac and iPhone tools, setup tips, and what software can't do. Not medical or educational advice." url: "https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-for-dyslexia" --- # Writing by voice, proofreading by ear If spelling slows your writing down or reading back your own text is tiring, two tools help: dictation, so you say the words instead of spelling them, and text to speech, so you hear what you wrote. Your Mac and iPhone have both built in. Here's how to set them up and use them together. By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Updated 12 October 2026. > ### Please read this first > > This page is about software and writing workflow. It is not medical, diagnostic or educational advice, and no app can promise better reading or writing outcomes. If you or your child need support, talk to a specialist teacher, assessor or clinician. ## The two-way workflow 1. **Write by voice.** Say what you want to write. The words arrive spelled for you. 2. **Proofread by ear.** Select the text and have it read aloud. You hear the wrong word or the missing one, without having to read it back yourself. 3. **Fix and repeat.** Correct what you heard, then listen once more. People use this for emails, school work, reports and messages. It doesn't replace learning or support. It's a way to get your ideas onto the page with less friction. ## Free tools already on your Mac - **Dictation.** Turn it on in **System Settings**, **Keyboard**, **Dictation**, then press the Microphone key or your shortcut and talk. See [how to dictate on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/how-to-dictate-on-mac). - **Speak selection.** Turn it on in **System Settings**, **Accessibility**, **Read & Speak**. Select text and press **Option-Esc** to hear it. You can highlight each word as it's read. See [text to speech on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/text-to-speech-on-mac). ## On iPhone and iPad - **Dictation:** tap the microphone on the keyboard. See [how to dictate on iPhone](https://speechbee.app/guides/how-to-dictate-on-iphone). - **Speak Selection and Speak Screen:** in **Settings**, **Accessibility**, **Read & Speak**. Select text and tap **Speak**, or swipe down with two fingers to hear the whole screen. See [read aloud on iPhone](https://speechbee.app/guides/read-aloud-iphone). ## Setup tips - **Highlight words as they're read.** Following the highlight while listening is how many people proofread. - **Slow the voice down** for proofreading, speed it up for reading. - **Pick a voice you like.** Download better voices in Read & Speak settings. - **Teach your dictation app names** it gets wrong, so you don't have to correct their spelling by hand. Apple Dictation on Mac has no custom dictionary; dedicated apps do. - **Use snippets** for things you write often, such as your email address. ## SpeechBee does both directions SpeechBee is the app we make. On a Mac, one key dictates into any app, and another reads selected text aloud with a natural voice, so the two-way workflow is two keys. It removes filler words, learns names from its dictionary and expands snippets. Everything runs on your device. On iPhone and iPad it's a voice keyboard plus a Read tab for pasted text. It's a writing tool, not an educational or medical product, and it doesn't scan printed pages or read whole books. For younger users, a parent or guardian manages the purchase on the family's Apple account. ## Questions ### Can dictation help with dyslexia? Many people with dyslexia use dictation to get words down without spelling them, and text to speech to proofread. Whether it suits you is a question for you and, where relevant, a specialist. We can't promise outcomes. ### What free tools does a Mac have for reading and writing? Dictation for writing by voice, and Speak selection for hearing text read aloud. Both are in System Settings. ### Can my Mac highlight words while reading aloud? Yes. In Read & Speak settings, open the Speak selection options and choose to highlight words, sentences or both. ### Does SpeechBee scan printed books? No. It reads text you select on screen. For printed pages, use an app with OCR, such as NaturalReader's paid plans or Speechify's Scan & Listen. ## Keep reading - [How to make your Mac read text aloud](https://speechbee.app/guides/text-to-speech-on-mac) - [Dictation for students](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-for-students) - [Dictation with ADHD](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-for-adhd) ## Sources All checked on 12 October 2026. - [Apple: Use Dictation on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac) - [Apple: Have your Mac speak text that's on the screen](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/have-your-mac-speak-text-thats-on-the-screen-mh27448/mac) - [Apple: Hear iPhone speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/hear-iphone-speak-the-screen-iph96b214f0/ios) - SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)