In the digital era, some of the best health care innovations are accessible on one’s very own smartphone. For the 430 million people around the world with hearing loss (WHO), smartphones have become a vital resource for facilitating social interaction and creating community among the deaf and hard of hearing.
Over 95% of the deaf and hard of hearing community in developed countries use a smartphone regularly. Today, a plethora of smartphone applications help to eliminate the main communication-related barriers that hinder the daily lives of the deaf and hard of hearing community worldwide.
Below, our team at InnoCaption has compiled a beginners’ list of the best smartphone apps for people with hearing loss. From making telephone calls to interacting with others in-person to measuring the sound levels at a given location, our recommendations serve as optional supplements to better accommodate the needs of our users and the deaf and hard of hearing community at large! Read on to learn about these five must-have smartphone apps:
Number One on our list is Google’s Live Transcribe & Notification, a free Android application that makes everyday conversations and surrounding sounds more accessible. Live Transcribe & Notification facilitates back-and-forth interaction with others, and in fact, it is audiologist Tina Childress’ favorite app for in-person communication.
Live Transcribe & Notification has a few essential features for those with hearing loss, including the option to transcribe verbal speech in real-time or to use a keyboard for typing responses. Additionally, this app hosts over 80 languages and dialects, which greatly increases its range of accessibility and reach!
Another useful application for in-person interaction is Big Text, which is compatible with all Apple products. This app enhances communication with others by presenting large, easy-to-read messages on the smartphone screen. While it was originally designed as a note-display for crowded bars or noisy workplaces, the deaf and hard of hearing community have begun to use the app to add “flavor” to everyday conversations.
Big Text offers a keyboard feature and speech recognition for displaying messages, as well as a wide variety of fonts, colors, and text animations. All memos can be saved and used repeatedly, which is especially beneficial for personal introductions or a gentle reminder: “Hi, I have hearing loss. If you need to communicate with me, please talk into my speech-to-text app on my smartphone. Thanks!”
Knowing American sign language (ASL) can enable people to meet and interact with a whole new community; the app ASL American Sign Language provides a convenient, enjoyable learning experience that extends beyond the basics. In the app, users learn the alphabet, numbers, and commonly used phrases and vocabulary through watching videos and playing interactive games.
ASL American Sign Language allows its users to build connections with a wider range of people, as well as promotes understanding and acceptance of the language among others. We encourage everyone to learn sign language, as it increases awareness of and sensitivity to the deaf and hard of hearing community!
Another must-have smartphone app for hearing loss is SoundPrint, which helps users “find a quiet place.” SoundPrint’s own decibel (noise) meter allows users to measure the loudness of a given venue and crowdsource (submit) that data to a database. Users can then search for venues based on how quiet or noisy they are.
In short, SoundPrint is like Yelp, but for noise! This simple-to-use, hearing-health app has three key features: a sound level meter, a community database with venue decibel measurements, and a Quiet List that highlights locations in major US cities that are less noisy. With SoundPrint, you can hear and connect with others in quieter venues, all while protecting your hearing health!
Last but not least is InnoCaption: Captioned Calls. InnoCaption addresses the challenge of making phone calls by providing real-time captioning of smartphone conversations for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. At InnoCaption, we offer no-cost service to our users because we are funded by the FCC’s Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. We believe that phone calls should be easy and accessible for everyone, so we empower our users to call anyone, anytime, anywhere.
InnoCaption is the only captioning app that allows users to switch between live stenographer or fully automatic captions — all at the press of a button! The speed and accuracy of our service ensures our users are able to keep up with their phone conversations. If hearing loss makes it challenging to understand your cell phone calls, InnoCaption is the solution for you!
Smartphone apps for individuals with hearing loss help to facilitate communication and community among their users. Our five must-have recommendations are great supplements for any existing professional healthcare. Thanks to these apps, building connection among the deaf and hard of hearing community has never been easier!
InnoCaption provides real-time captioning technology making phone calls easy and accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Offered at no cost to individuals with hearing loss because we are certified by the FCC. InnoCaption is the only mobile app that offers real-time captioning of phone calls through live stenographers and automated speech recognition software. The choice is yours.
InnoCaption proporciona tecnología de subtitulado en tiempo real que hace que las llamadas telefónicas sean fáciles y accesibles para la comunidad de personas sordas y con problemas de audición. Se ofrece sin coste alguno para las personas con pérdida auditiva porque estamos certificados por la FCC. InnoCaption es la única aplicación móvil que ofrece subtitulación en tiempo real de llamadas telefónicas mediante taquígrafos en directo y software de reconocimiento automático del habla. Usted elige.
