How to Use the Speed Reading Feature in Helperbird with Syllables

What happened to Speed Reading?

The original Speed Reading tool was removed in July 2026. It showed one word at a time in the middle of your screen, with an option to break words into syllables. That older syllable-based tool is no longer in the extension.

A new Speed Reading card is now available in Reading Mode and the PDF Reader. It has Play and Pause, previous and next word controls, a pace setting and an optional middle-letter highlight. It does not split words into syllables.

Follow the current Speed Reading guide.

What to use instead

Helperbird still has strong tools for focused, faster reading:

• Reading Mode - clears away ads, sidebars, and clutter. You get one clean column of text, so your eyes stay on the words.
• Text to Speech - reads any page out loud. Turn up the voice speed to move through text quickly while you listen and follow along.
• Focus Ruler - a reading guide that follows your cursor. It shades the rest of the page so you see one line at a time.

How to read with focus now

1. Open the page you want to read.
2. Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar.
3. Turn on Reading Mode to strip the page down to just the text.
4. Turn on Text to Speech and pick a faster voice speed if you want a quick pace. See how to change voice settings for the steps.
5. Add the Focus Ruler if you want help keeping your place, line by line.

You can mix and match these tools. Many people use Reading Mode and Text to Speech together to get what Speed Reading offered, a steady pace with fewer distractions.

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you find the reading setup that works best for you.