Your Child’s Journey: An Ohio Guide for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Support

Speech to Text Technology

Speech-to-text technology takes spoken words and shows them as written text on a screen and can also be called speech recognition technology. This can help your child follow conversations and classroom learning in real time. It may be used at school, at home, during doctor's visits, or in public spaces like museums or airports.

When Could Speech-to-Text Be Helpful?

  • At school: Following classroom discussions, lessons, or group projects.
  • At home: Keeping up with family conversations or online learning.
  • In healthcare: Understanding what a doctor, nurse, or therapist is saying.
  • In public spaces: Announcements at an airport, library events, or group activities.

Watch this module to see an example of speech recognition being used for writing purposes.

Considerations for Speech to Text Use

Not every tool works the same for every child. Things you might want to consider:

  • Your child’s age and reading level: Can they keep up with reading text quickly?
  • The setting: Is it a quiet classroom, or a noisy playground? Speech-to-text works best in calm spaces with only one person speaking at a time. If the environment is noisy, moving to a quieter space or using a good microphone can help.
  • Accuracy: Sometimes words may not be transcribed correctly, especially if there is background noise. Encourage your child to double-check or ask for clarification when needed.
  • Support: Your child may still need an adult, teacher, or interpreter to fill in gaps.

Examples of Speech-to-Text Options

These are some of the tools families and schools may use:

CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation)

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A trained professional types everything that is said, and your child can read it live on a screen.

Learn More about CART

C-Print Registered

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C-Print is a real-time captioning service, which captures the essence of the spoken message. The translated words can be viewed on a screen. The translated written words may be put into a file and printed out, which can be useful for school notes.

Learn More about C-Print

TypeWell

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TypeWell is a service where a trained transcriber listens to a discussion and quickly types a condensed version of what is said using special software. The reader can follow the transcript in real time on any web-connected device, like a laptop, tablet, or phone. The transcript can also be saved or printed for later.

Learn More about TypeWell

Ava App

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A mobile app that transcribes group conversations in real time.

Learn More about Ava

Otter AI

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A transcription app often used in classrooms and meetings.

Built-in options on phones and computers: Apple, Android, and Windows devices have basic speech-to-text features that can be used in daily life.

Learn More about Otter

Who Can Help?

  • At school: Your child’s educational team can talk with you about when speech to text technology might be used in the classroom. The team can explore more speech-to-text options using SIFTS, a web-based tool that matches technology features to a student’s needs.
  • At home or in the community: Audiologists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), or teachers of the deaf may suggest options.
  • For big events or medical appointments: You can ask about CART or other real-time captioning services in advance.

Key IconKey Takeaway

Speech-to-text is one of many tools that can support your child’s access to communication. It may work well in some settings but not in others. Trying out different options—and checking in with your child’s team—can help you decide if it’s the right fit. Remember: Quieter spaces, good microphones, and taking turns speaking all help make speech-to-text more accurate and useful for your child.