Twinkl Symbols uses a text-to-speech engine, available natively on your device, to turn the letters/words of a symbol label, or the custom letters/words you enter, into spoken audio.
The quality of this audio directly relates to the quality of the audio engine available on the device and the settings your device is configured to use.
For the best possible spoken audio experience, we recommend using a recent Apple iOS (iPhone / iPad) device, with an enhanced voice (enhanced voices must be downloaded as an additional step. Without this, you’ll only have a standard voice available to you).
Once you’ve downloaded an enhanced voice for your device, you also need to make sure that Twinkl Symbols is set up to use this voice.
Step 1 - Checking your device and Twinkl Symbols version.
To complete this guide, please make sure your device is an Apple iPhone or iPad, and that you’ve downloaded the latest version of Twinkl Symbols for AAC. In general, keeping up to date with the latest version of our app is a good idea, as this will make sure you have access to the latest symbols and app features/functionality.
Because enhanced and premium voices require additional downloads, we'd recommend you follow the guide when on WiFi or using an unlimited 3/4/5G connection.
Step 2 - Choose and download an enhanced voice
On your Apple device:
- Open Settings and go to ‘Accessibility’ on the left menu, then ‘Spoken Content’ on the right menu and tap the ‘Voices’ setting.
- Choose your preferred language from the list shown e.g. English.
- You’ll then be shown a list of regional dialects on the screen, for example: English (UK), English (Australia). Find and select your preferred dialect.
- You’ll be shown a number or male and female options for each dialect. Click on each voice to hear a sample of the voice and select your preferred voice. To download an enhanced or premium voice version, tap on the voice name and press the download button next to the enhanced/premium voice option.
- Once downloaded, this voice will be available as an option within the Twinkl Symbols for AAC app.
Step 3 - Change the Twinkl Symbols settings to use the Enhanced Voice
Open the Settings menu from the main menu of the Twinkl Symbols for AAC App by tapping the cog icon in the upper right corner and select the ‘Voice’ settings.
Here you can access the following:
- Voice Enabled - this toggle switch enables/disables the voice output for users.
- Personal Voice - this enables you to use a synthesised voice that sounds like your own, if you’ve recorded a personal voice on your device.
- Region - clicking this displays flags so that the relevant voices are offered.
- Name - displays the voices available to choose from. If you have downloaded enhanced voices this is where they’ll be displayed.
- Rate - if you’d like to fine tune the rate (speed) of your chosen voice, you can amend this with these setting controls.
- Pitch - if you would like to fine tune the pitch of your chosen voice, you can amend this with these setting controls.
Important: For all adult voices, Twinkl Symbols only has access to the voices installed on your device.
Find out more information about this app, and other Twinkl apps, on our Apps Website Page.
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We're here for you if you ever need help, check out our self-service App FAQs, or get in touch with us via telephone, Email or messenger.
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