Here’s how to enable text to speech (meaning that you can select text and hear it read aloud) prior to OS 10.7 (Lion):
- Launch System Preferences
- Click on the “Speech” control panel
- Click on the “Text to Speech” tab
- Look to see if the “Speak selected text when the key is pressed” option is checked
- If it is checked, take note of the key combination written after “Current key:”
- If it isn’t checked, click in the box, then click on “Change Key”
- Enter a key combination that you wish to use to make selected text read aloud. I use Option + S (S for speak helps me remember it). You need to use one of the modifier keys (Command, Shift, Option or Control). This is the key combination that will start and stop text reading
- After you enter your key combo, select “OK”
- Note that in the Speech control panel you can also select the Voice you wish to have speak text and the Speaking Rate.
- Close System Preferences, highlight some text, press you key combination and listen away!
