Touch-type Read and Spell can be used individually, in a class/group setting, or under the guidance of a speech and language therapist.

Hearing and seeing words on the screen in repetitive modules retraces the sound-letter correspondence needed for the brain to process spoken and written language. The kinesthetic element of pressing a key involves muscle memory to reinforce language in memory. Saying the words aloud as you type them can also help with dysarthria.

You may find Touch-type Read and Spell is a convenient and effective way to practice language recall and production. 

Individuals who have difficulties speaking and being understood after a stroke may wish to communicate using a keyboard. TTRS allows you to learn to touch-type and strengthen your language skills at the same time. 

When communicative difficulties are extreme, the course can be a good way to review phonics and relearn basic words in written and spoken English.

Select Settings from the top navigation menu

Color/colour perception can vary depending on the location and severity of your stroke. Try different combinations of background, word, and copy text colors until you find something that reduces visual stress and enhances the readability for you.

There is a one-handed typing option for individuals with hemiplegia. Next to hands, choose the Right only or Left only option.

Copy typing

For some individuals, it may help to see a word and type it on a separate line below. For others, having two lines of text can create visual stress and it would be better to turn copy typing off.

Remember and repeat

Remember and repeat can support language recall and spelling. When it is turned on, a word will disappear after you have typed it and you will need to type it again from memory.

Audio type

With the Speak 1 Word option, you will have one word read aloud at a time. This can allow you to focus on the sounds inside that word and not feel overwhelmed by longer strings of language. If you'd like more of a challenge, you can try Speak 3 Words or Speak Full Sentence to strengthen auditory processing skills.

Announce module praise

You can choose to have applause played at the end of typing modules. Some users find the audio track of the applause overwhelming and distracting. If this is the case, you can turn the Announce module praise option off.  

Announce Backspace key
​
This option creates an auditory alert when you make a mistake. For some users, hearing this alert multiple times within a module can be demotivating and distracting. If this is the case, you can turn the Announce Backspace key option off.

Select TTRS Course from the top navigation menu

You can preview different modules by selecting a Level (1-24). 
​

Select a module, and then select view lines to see the content covered. You can hear a word spoken aloud by selecting it.

Previewing different modules and levels can help you get a sense of the challenge level that is right for you. Words from earlier levels tend to be shorter consonant-vowel-consonant words and may present less difficulty than at higher levels. 

TTRS modules group words by language feature. You may find some sound and letter combinations are harder for you than others. If this is the case, moving around the course based on the content covered may be a more effective approach than progressing sequentially through the levels. 

TTRS has a free writing interface that allows you to write your own text and then view statistics on how many words you produced and how many words from the course you spelled correctly. 

You can choose a 5 min, 10 min, 15 min or untimed session.
​

Your written work will be saved and can serve as a measure of the progress you are making. If you're using TTRS with a language therapist, he or she can access the admin view and leave comments on your writing. 

In addition to the Main TTRS Course, you can also find a selection of modules that cover specific content areas. Depending on your personal interests and career, it may help to rehearse vocabulary from specific subjects. You can see a list of available subjects from the main navigation menu.

You can add your own custom subjects inside TTRS. This is a helpful feature if you know you struggle with particular words and would like to practice them inside a typing module. 

You might create a subject of words you have difficulty remembering, spelling, or saying.

You'll get the most out of TTRS if you decide on a regular approach to practice. You may choose to start with 5-10 minutes of practice 3-4 times a week or go with a target number of modules per session.

Keep in mind that in the beginning, you will tire quickly. This is to be expected. Plan on lengthening your sessions gradually and only when you are ready.

If you find a particular language feature difficult, you may wish to spend some time reviewing words before beginning a typing module. From the levels screen, select a module and a word to hear it read aloud. You can view and practice saying the word without any pressure to produce it in writing.

Every fifth module in TTRS is a dictation exercise where you will be asked to produce the written form of a word from audio alone. This can help you focus on the sounds in a word and allow you to see your progress. 

For some individuals, not having a visual guide can be quite challenging. If you don't feel dictation exercises will benefit your language therapy, you can turn them off by toggling the DICT icon.

You may find it easier to practice on a particular device or keyboard. You can use TTRS on your work or home computer, as well as on an iPad (through the TTRS app). 

The TTRS iPad app works with both a touch-screen and a wireless keyboard. 

You can view your results by selecting Statistics from the main navigation menu to see how many modules you've completed, as well as your accuracy and typing speed scores. 

However, this may not be the best approach to measuring your progress. You can also measure progress by judging how challenging and/or tiring a session is for you, or how many words you are able to produce in free writing sessions.

It all depends on the location and severity of your stroke. Some individuals make progress quickly, whereas others need to work through modules quite regularly over extended periods of time.