apps for hearing accessibility strengthen connections

By Andrea Kaneb

artistic image of cell phone icons for apps for hearing accessibility

“There’s an app for that!”

For beginners….What’s an app?

An app, short for application, is a software program that performs a specific function. There are apps that supplement your hearing with more information and make life easier. Apps are available on smartphones, tablets, computers and other electronic devices. Many are free or have a free trial period. Sometimes there are several apps that do the same thing. In this case, ask other people for recommendations or look at the apps’ ratings and reviews before you download it. If you don’t like an app, you can remove it. Some ask for permission to use your device’s microphone or camera, etc. In addition, some record conversations, which can be a privacy issue.

There are a staggering number of apps out there. They are not just for hearing loss, but all kinds of functions. There are over 2.7 million apps in the Google Play store. Similarly, the Apple App store has over 1.8 million. (Clement, J., 2020). That’s a lot!

Apps for better hearing accessibility:

speech-to-text
captioned phone calls
captions for televisions in gyms, bars, etc.
amplifiers
hearing tests
captioned phone messages
remote microphones
sound level meters
video calls
text messaging
hearing aid control
accessibility info for movie theaters
captioned live performances
noise ratings for some restaurants
American sign language tutorials
and many more…..

To sum up, there are many apps available that help people with hearing loss stay connected. Try them for yourself or check out some of my favorites.

where to find apps that work for you:

App Store (to find apps for Apple iOS devices)

Google Play Store (to find apps for Android devices)

How to search for apps for hearing accessibility to suit your needs

Start by clicking on the “store” for your device.
In the search field, type what you are trying to do (captioning, amplifier, sound meter, hearing test, etc.)
Read about the app to make sure it does what you want.
Look at the ratings and number of reviews. If it has high stars with a lot of reviews that is a good sign.
Check for the date of the latest update. Some apps will not work with the phone’s latest software if not maintained.
If it is free, you can try it out.
If it costs money, ask other people with hearing loss for recommendations/reviews before purchase.

popular speech-to-text apps

Speech-to-text apps convert spoken words into text as they are being said. These apps are great for filling in the gaps.

Most require an internet connection.
They usually work well enough with the device’s built-in microphone.
For even more accuracy, try them with an external microphone.
For a casual in-person crowd, you can connect a mobile device to a projector to display the text.

Google Live Transcribe

I know a lot of people with hearing loss that love Google’s Live Transcribe app, myself included. This app is only available on Android devices. Some iPhone users buy a Wi-Fi only Android device just so they can use this app.

For an introduction to Live Transcribe learn more here.

To learn how to get the most out of Live Transcribe learn more here.

Click to learn about other popular speech-to-text apps…

Ava

iOS Live Transcribe

other popular apps
(click to learn more)

Innocaption is one of several apps that captions phone calls for free for people with hearing loss. This app uses both live stenographers and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology.

The FCC has found comparable quality between stenographers and ASR technology, with ASR being faster and more private, although some users feel ASR is lower quality. Try them both for yourself.

Google Voice automatically transcribes voicemail into text.

Sonic Cloud is a fun app with an amazing equalizer that makes it easier to understand words. It works on a phone for calls, podcasts and music and on computers for TV, movies, conf. calls, etc. It includes a hearing test that you can try for free.

Gala Pro provides subtitles and amplification on your smartphone for live performances at participating theaters.

SoundPrint helps you find quieter restaurants through crowd-sourced loudness data. It includes a decibel meter to measure how loud your surroundings are.

Waze streams audible driving directions as it navigates to your destination.

Hearing Aid Apps

Most hearing aid manufacturers offer apps that interact with hearing aids. These are great to check battery level, or to change programs or control volume. In addition, some have advanced features like a basic equalizer or teleaudiology. To find these apps, search for them by your brand or ask your hearing health professional.

Even more apps….

Audiologist and advocate Tina Childress, AuD. has an extensive list of apps for kids and adults with hearing loss. Click to see Tina’s iOS spreadsheet or Android spreadsheet.