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In a world where instant communication is king and news travels at the speed of text, it can be challenging for those who are hard of hearing (HOH) to feel connected and engaged to the people around them. However, your smartphone may hold the key to improving your ability to comfortably experience everyday life situations.
When you think of your smartphone, you likely think of the world literally at your fingertips. But did you know there are several Android and iOS apps to assist HOH individuals find relief from conditions such as tinnitus? Or that there are others designed with speech-to-text features to ease communication barriers? And the best part is most of these apps are FREE.
The first set of apps we tested are what we considered “dictation” apps. Dictation apps are classified as those designed to transcribe spoken words into text and can be extremely valuable to those with more severe hearing loss. After extensive research, we found two apps that stood out from the pack.
Speechnotes and Dragon Dictation are speech-to-text apps created by WellSource and Nuance respectively that use voice recognition software in your phone to transcribe spoken word into text which can be read in real time. Simply have the person speak into your phone and watch the conversation unfold before your very eyes. Imagine being able to have a conversation with your favorite grandchild without the frustration of trying to understand them!
Next, we focused on apps geared towards tinnitus relief. There are several apps designed to help relieve some of the symptoms of tinnitus or “ringing in the ears.” If you currently wear hearing aids, a good place to start is by looking to your hearing aid brand. Every major hearing aid company produces their own version of a tinnitus relief app and they are as follows: Resound Relief, Starkey Relax, and Tinnitus Sound by Oticon. We found they contain anywhere from 5 to 12 basic environmental sounds you can set as background noise when your tinnitus feels overwhelming or when you want to distract from it in a quiet setting. There are also looping options, sleep timer options, and options to select situational sounds if you found a certain sound soothing in a particular setting. Oticon’s even had additional options such as breathing and muscle relaxation exercises for when sound therapy isn’t enough.
However, if you are looking for a more involved app or one with a specific sound type in mind, we suggest using either Naturespace 3D Sound from Holographic Audio Theater, LLC. Or Relax Melodies from Ipnos Software.
Naturespace 3D Sound has 6 different sound options but what sets it apart is the way in which the sound is recorded. Holographic Audio Theater, LLC uses several different microphones to record soundtracks to make it feel as though you are actually sitting by a lake at night or standing by the ocean. The sound makes you feel like you are immersed in the environment, making it a truly interesting find. On the other hand, Relax Melodies contains many of the same features as the basic apps but it offers a broader selection of sound types. With it, you can choose one or several of the 50 different sound options to create a unique track catered just to your needs. You can also tack on a “meditation” option which provides therapeutic “buzzing” or “pulsing” sounds under the soundtrack for added tinnitus relief.
Lastly, we researched sign language apps for those with severe hearing loss or anyone who may find value in learning conversational signs. The best one we found came from Everyone and was called ASL American Sign Language. This app walks you through the basics such as the alphabet, numbers, finger spelling, basic words, body and health, food signs, school signs, money signs, animal signs, question signs, country signs and more! If you would like to learn more advanced signing, you can upgrade the app to the ASL Pro Version for only $2.87.
Granted, the apps mentioned are simply the tip of the iceberg and are the ones we found the most useful but that does not mean you have to stop there. Download them and try them for yourself. We would love to hear what you have to say!