Alexias

Damage to the left posterior hemisphere causing a right hemianopsia can also result in loss of reading ability owing to damage to the centers of the brain involved in processing reading. Many patients may relearn reading skills with a speech therapist. However, in some cases the damage may be so severe as to preclude reading permanently.

If the patient is unable to recover reading ability but can understand verbal reading, electronic text-to-voice machines are available such as the Kurzweil Omni 1000 and 3000 and the SARA System.

The NokiaN82 cell phone can be adapted with the Kurzweil Software (KNFB) to allow the cell phone’s camera to capture a picture of text and then read it to the patient. Similar software can be used on a computer with a scanner to enter text.

These machines capture the image of print, interpret it and read it aloud to the patient. Talking books and reading radio are also very helpful. A variety of software is available to allow computers to read any text present on the screen. Free software such as LowBrowse is available as a plug in for the Firefox browser.