Do You have Hearing Loss? Here are 5 Apps that will Help You Improve with Communication.

Are you frustrated about communicating with the people in your life, or even with short interactions with strangers? 
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Get use apps as tools for connecting with people in real-time. 

1. Live Transcribe

This app, which is used with Android smartphones/smartwatches, transcribes face-to-face conversations in real-time. Gallaudet University - the American school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students - developed a program that translates speech from over 70 languages and dialects to text that you read on your phone in just a few seconds. Bilingual conversations can be facilitated, and you can type your responses or prompts instead of saying them aloud. The app can also alert you if your smoke alarm, or any other alarm system you have set up, goes off.

2. SoundWatch

Did you know that artificial intelligence (AI) can be conveniently accessed through a wristwatch? This smartwatch-based application can alert you when there are sounds around you. This app was specifically created for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It learns to alert users to types of sounds that can be preselected - a car horn’s honk, a baby’s cry, running water, etc. It is not for emergencies or high-risk situations but provides a general awareness of your surroundings.  

3. Sound Level Meter from NIOSH 

This app utilizes a compatible smartphone device with a built-in microphone to measure the ranges of sound in your environment. Across the globe, researchers stated that approximately 16 to 24 percent of hearing loss occurs on the job. Excess noise exposure is one of the most preventable causes of hearing loss, so it’s important to be aware of sound levels in the environments that you frequent. 

4. Marlee Signs

This app can be used by children and adults to learn basic American Sign Language (ASL). Oscar award-winning actor, Marlee Matlin, who is deaf teaches the language. ASL, which is used in the U.S. and Canada, provides a connection with others no matter what range of hearing they may have. The app can be very helpful for anyone who has hearing loss or if you have friends or family members with hearing loss. There are a number of different kinds of ASL instructional apps, so explore forms of communication with finger-spelling, conversational signing, helping babies communicate, building vocabulary, and more.    

5. SoundPrint

This app features a decibel meter that is paired with the ability to upload results to a user community through a searchable database. Users can discover gyms, restaurants, subways, and other areas that are designated as “quiet”, “moderate”, “loud”, or “very loud”.  

If you are noticing any changes in your hearing and need a hearing test, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  

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