Variable Speed Tape Recorders

Learn about assistive technology tools called Variable Speed Control Tape Recorders.

By Kristin Stanberry , Marshall Raskind, Ph.D.

Tape recorders/players allow a user to listen to pre-recorded text or to capture spoken information (e.g., a classroom lecture) and play it back later. Variable speed control (VSC) tape recorders speed up or slow down the playback rate without distorting the "speaker's" voice.

What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?

This tool may help people who struggle with: reading and listening.

Products to Consider:

Resources to help you evaluate assistive technology for your child:

Consumer Tips for Evaluating Assistive Technology Products

Updated February 2010

Kristin Stanberry is a writer and editor specializing in parenting, education, and consumer health/wellness issues. Her areas of expertise include learning disabilities and AD/HD, which she wrote about extensively for Schwab Learning and GreatSchools.

Marshall H. Raskind, Ph.D., is a learning disability researcher. He is a frequent presenter at international LD conferences and is the author of numerous professional publications on learning disabilities. He is well-known for his research on assistive technology and longitudinal studies tracing LD across the life span.