As 2019 draws to a close and a new decade begins, it’s the perfect opportunity for people with hearing loss in Charleston to take stock of their health and vow to make changes. Reconnecting with others will help prevent isolation, loneliness and depression. If you haven’t visited an audiologist yet, schedule an appointment in the new year. In the meantime, take advantage of the many smartphone apps available for both Apple and Android users.
iOS Hearing Apps
With apps that will allow you to test your hearing from the comfort of home, alert you to audio cues you might miss or help you follow conversations more effectively, there are plenty of great apps to choose from in the Apple store. The following are some of our favorites.
- Test Your Hearing. Seeking a simple but effective way to test your hearing? This app’s got you covered. Simply push a red button every time you hear a sound. At the end of the test, you’ll be given a “hearing age” assessment based on your score. If your approximate hearing age is significantly older than your actual age, you might be experiencing hearing loss.
- Bose® Hear. If you use Bose® Headphones™, this companion app helps enhance conversations, letting you hear more clearly in noisy environments. It also allows you to stream music and phone calls directly from your phone.
- TapTap. Deaf and hard of hearing users won’t miss audio cues with the TapTap app. It causes your phone to flash and vibrate, alerting you to sounds that might otherwise go undetected by your hearing aids.
- Braci. Similar to TapTap, Braci lets you record sounds in your home and converts them to visual and sensory notifications and alerts. Doorbells, smoke alarms, phone calls and more can be programmed, giving you a sense of security and peace of mind.
- Pedius. Taking advantage of synthesis and speech-recognition technology, Pedius allows those who are deaf or hearing-impaired to make phone calls. Built-in voice recognition software translates speech, converting it to text and eliminating the need for third-party translation services.
Android Hearing Apps
Android users have no shortage of apps from which they can choose, either. Alerts, captioning and connecting with others who are hard of hearing are all just a swipe away in the Google Play store. We recommend the following.
- Hearing Test. Relying on pure tone audiometry—the most common hearing exam in Wilmington audiology offices—and predefined calibrations, this app measures the quietest sounds you are able to hear to accurately determine your hearing threshold.
- AllDeaf. This social networking site for the deaf, hard of hearing and ASL users lets you post messages to the All Deaf forum, upload pictures and have private conversations with like-minded users.
- Sound Alert. Made by the folks behind Braci, this app records sounds in your home environment and converts them to visual and sensory notification alerts, turning your smartphone into an alerting device, providing safety and comfort.
- Ava. This app relies on your smartphone’s microphone to pick up sounds and translate them instantly into word-for-word captioning and subtitles, giving you the ability to participate fully in conversations. Ava utilizes AI technology to “learn” from mistakes; by highlighting incorrect words, you can teach Ava to get them right the next time.
- Easy Talk. This transcribing app utilizes voice recognition software to transcribe conversations. Its offline functionality provides access in areas with poor cell service and is available in both free and pro versions.
- Sprint Relay. Sometimes a traditional relay service is your best bet. Sprint’s app allows you to type what you want to say to an operator, who will then relay the message to the person you are calling and provide a typed response.
New apps are being developed constantly; if you’d like additional recommendations, give your audiologist in Charleston a call.
Learn about Hearing Aid Technology:
Our Charleston Area Audiologists Office Locations
West Ashley
2295 Henry Tecklenburg Dr
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 766-7103
Mount Pleasant
180 Wingo Way, Suite 103
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 766-7103
James Island
537 Folly Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 576-2604