I recently compiled kernel version 3.9.2 and got speakup working with my audapter serial synth on a debian 32 bit system. I removed the error checking about stealing ports and also modified spk_serial_release by commenting out synth_release_region. This fixed a problem where the synth wouldn't get released and speakup-soft wouldn't work. I don't care enough to try this on a 64 bit system.
