Why+you+might+consider+using+Speech+Recognition?

“Speech recognition software may provide many students with physical disabilities a powerful tool that will allow them to access and manipulate the computer to record their ideas quickly and independently with relative ease” (Gardner, 2008, p.47). Speech recognition software may be used by students to independently complete assignments involving written expression, when handwriting or typing is not successful (Gardner, 2008). Speech recognition requires the users to navigate within the software interface either issuing verbal commands or manually using a keyboard or mouse (Quinlan, 2004). “Speech recognition technology may decrease reliance on the teacher, in turn increasing the student’s ability to function independently” (Gardner, 2008, p. 47). As a student becomes more familiar with speech recognition technology they may be able to attain greater success as they are able to work at their own rate (Gardner, 2008).

However, even with familiarity with speech recognition software, students may experience difficulty with its limitations. “Speech recognition provides potential hurdles for people with disabilities” (Green, 2011, p. 144). Individuals with articulation problems such as dysarthric speech may have difficulty using speech recognition software. The software is very sensitive to sounds; therefore vocalizations or heavy breathing may be picked up by the computer and recorded (Gardner, 2008). This is a challenge of using speech recognition software within the inclusive classroom, as the classroom is rarely quiet. “Speech recognition software requires reading skill and ability to recognize errors” (Gardner, 2008, p.49). If errors occur, students need to have the ability to recognize the errors and fix them.

