5 brilliant (and free) phone apps for hearing loss

No one would disagree that life is difficult for those with hearing loss, but modern technology is at least making the struggle a little easier than previous generations.

Since the smartphone arrived on the scene in recent years, technology has been improving at an exponential rate.

Our phones can do ridiculous things now, from tracking your cholesterol to pinpointing gunshots, so it’s not surprising that there are plenty of apps for hearing loss out there for people to try.

We’ve picked five free apps for you to check out, which, hopefully, make your life a little easier.

RogerVoice

RogerVoice uses speech recognition software to immediately transform live speech into captions in over 100 different languages.

This app is great for friends and family because captions are free between apps, so people you call on a regular basis can install it too.

If you want to use it for speaking to those who don’t have the app installed, then you need to buy a call plan. These plans include a “Roger number” which you can give out for people to call, ensuring calls go through the app.

Google Live Transcribe

An impressive app from Google which offers real-time transcription of speech into text. This differs from RogerVoice as it uses the microphone to listen to what’s going on rather than just a phone call.

The app works in 70 different languages and has a customisable user interface, allowing the user to change the displayed text size and background colour.

This app is great for lectures and conferences, especially because it can be paired with an external Bluetooth microphone, allowing the speaker to sit further away and still keep up with what’s going on.

Decibel X

Decibel X is a professional noise level app, which turns your phone into a professional sound level meter.

This is helpful in public places such as restaurants or bars, but can also be used for those who have a difficult time judging the sound of their own speaking voice.

Judging the noise level of a room is also important for those with tinnitus, who can then quickly assess whether hearing protection must be worn.

Chatable

Chatable is a sound amplification app which uses your phone’s built-in microphone to enhance speech and cut down on background noise.

While not a replacement for proper hearing aids, the app is handy when batteries in a hearing aid fail, or as an addition to a hearing device.

Boosting someone’s speech is particularly important during the current pandemic, with so many people wearing facemasks, it’s become a further obstacle for the hearing impaired.

Resolver

While Resolver isn’t made specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing, it is a very useful website for people who don’t like talking on the phone.

The online site helps customers send feedback and resolve disputes online with businesses and service providers, thus avoiding anxiety-inducing phone calls.

Supported by Martin Lewis from MoneySavingExpert.com, Resolver isn’t an app at the moment, but simple a website you can use on your phone.

trueCall HL

Although not an app, trueCall HL is so useful for deaf and hard of hearing people, I couldn’t resist adding this to our list!

When you make an enquiry online or want to book something, you’re nearly always asked to leave a phone number, and sometimes you can’t complete an online form without giving them a number. This just doesn’t work for deaf and hard of hearing people who need communication by email or text message, not phone calls. trueCall HL is a free service which gives you two telephone numbers you can give out, one for a female voice and one for a male voice.

When callers ring this number, they will hear a polite message;  “Hello – Thank you for calling. I prefer to be contacted via email, please use the email address that you have for me – Goodbye”

So there you have it, five apps for your mobile that we think can help you. Did we miss any big ones? Is there an app you can’t live without? Let us know!