KeyTalkC is a simple utility that combined with a clipboard text-to-speech program offers one word at a time text-to-speech with highlighting to many programs like WordPad,Microsoft Word, Kingsoft Word and perhaps other programs including online editors like the one I am using now on Google Sites to edit this page.
It is simple to use. (Double-click the KeyTalkC program to launch it.) Just hold the Win key down (usually found between Ctrl and Alt) and press either the left or right arrow keys. KeyTalkC will highlight one word either left or right and copy it to the clipboard where your clipboard text-to-speech program will speak it out loud. Holding the Win key and pressing the down or up arrows will highlight and read a line at a time.
To suspend or resume using KeyTalkC, press the ~ key. To exit KeyTalkC, right-click the KeyTalkC icon in the system tray and select "Exit."
There are many free clipboard text-to-speech readers including: Simple TTS Reader ( http://sourceforge.net/projects/simplettsreader/ ), Orato , SpeakEasy ( http://www.fx-software.co.uk/assistive.htm ) , and Deskbot ( http://www.bellcraft.com/deskbot/ ). Orato and Deskbot optionally open their own text boxes where text is highlighted while read.
If you need to use other keys, or a joystick to access KeyTalkC's features let me know.
Get KeyTalkC on the Downloads page.