What are /r/hardofhearing's favorite Products & Services?

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https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.audio.hearing.visualization.accessibility.scribe&hl=en_US&gl=US

For android phone only.

Do NOT use most of those apps. Go find an audiology. MOST places offer in-house financing, so you're not hit with interest rate or such.

You need to find out how profound it is and audiology is the only one that can interpret the chart.

For Zoom, "Live Transcription" = "closed captioning". The only way to get live transcription in Zoom is to have the host turn it on but that has to be part of the contract with Zoom (as far as I know it is not free for everyone). A third party captionist can provide captions (e.g., CART or meaning-for-meaning captioning) but they need to have a specific link to access the meeting (the API token) or be part of the meeting and provide captions through a second application (so you would participate in Zoom in the Zoom application and then watch/read captions in a second window/application). BUT - if you have Microsoft Word 365 or Otter.ai or LiveTranscribe (Android) you can have your phone close to the computer while on Zoom and get a live transcript of what is being said. It is automated captioning so it will not be perfect but you don't need anyone else to turn it on for you. Side note: if you are in the US and looking for captioning as an accommodation, auto-captions are generally not considered to be accurate enough to provide equal access.

Try a speech to text app. AVA.me and otter.ai are the top ones for those of us with hearing loss. I bet it could work for you too. Seeing words makes it easier. Noisy environments can be tough though. I find a lot of people are willing to pull down their mask to accommodate lipreading. I tell them I use lipreading with my communication which people understand - they need to face me and I need to see their lips. I'm not a total lipreader but I get about 30% which adds to what I can hear making a big difference. That's why I tell people I 'use' lipreading.

Lowering masks is kind of scary. I don't ask people to do it. If they are willing, they ask me if it's okay and I say yes. I need that extra little bit for better communication.

Also, did you get a speech in noise test while at the audiologist. Sometimes that points to 'hidden hearing loss' too.

My partner and I use smart color changing light bulbs (e.g. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B089CYBJXH/ref=twister_B08KNGFDBB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1, though we bought these super on sale). I've got chronic migraines as well with pretty severe light sensitivity and these bulbs help with that as well as working as a signal. When they get home or need my attention they'll turn the light to purple or blue.
This brand also does just white lights, but with dimming, so maybe dimming the lights rather than flickering would be useful?

Two suggestions:

1) A digital watch with a vibration alarm. I use the Casio Men's G-Shock GD350 Sport Watch, and I've been very happy with it-- it vibrates strongly enough to wake me up out of a sound sleep. Sadly, the price has gone up a bunch since I got mine. It is in the G-Shock series, which are known for their durability and long lifespan, which might make it a better investment.

2) A sunrise alarm clock-- it has a bright light which turns on gradually, over 10 or more minutes. This kind of light alarm works much better for me than the alarms for deaf people that flash a light on and off.

The model I have is from Biobrite, but I'm not even sure their online store is working right now. Thankfully, sunrise clocks aren't such a specialty item anymore. The good ones use a bright incandescent light bulb-- LEDs don't work as well, even the new dimmable ones.

Steps to enable flash on iPhone

CapTel Land Line Phone for HoH <--this phone can be obtained free of charge by referral from an audiologist. That's how I got mine.

Thank you for the response, I will update my question. Yes this is for a land line in the US. Good point on checking with the hearing aid dispenser, I'll check with their ENT as well, maybe they have a good recommendation. My relatives don't use smart phones, just flip phone unfortunately.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ8ICCY

Maybe you can get waterproof sporting earbuds that use Bluetooth and have your teacher call you on your phone and as he talks to class he talks into your phone at same time.

I use these they handle loud volume nicely

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R16G8WV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1

I use these

I think there are probably several ways to accomplish what you are after. The simplest is probably buying a headset and transmitter set that is designed to do exactly what you are talking about.

here is a link to one of the sets on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Insignia-NS-HAWHP2-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B07N8H8RKC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJF4R1GWA2YF&amp;keywords=Insignia%E2%84%A2+-+RF+Wireless+Over-the-Ear+Headphones&amp;qid=1659374207&amp;sprefix=insignia+-+rf+wireless+over-the-ear+headp...

What did a lot of good for me was to take my audiogram and use it as a reference while setting a graphic equalizer. If you still can't get enough volume, you can get headphone amps like this

https://www.amazon.com/Sengled-Changing-Assistant-Required-Equivalent/dp/B091FQRBTL/ref=lp_13575748011_1_10

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Yep, they even have WiFi plugs - they work with alexa/google home as well. Not many that work with Apple Home though.

Here's the app, I'm using Android. Idk about iPhone/apple though. It cannot accurately gauge your hearing but, you can notice a significance change if the change in hearing is large enough.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.it4you.dectone.gui.hearingtest

I know how it feels. I already can't make out what people say with a hearing aid on then masks just made it more like I hear alien languages.

Here's what I have done yet hasn't tried in public. (Works well at home with my family)
There's an app that can do live transcription. Try "Ava" it's the best one said by some Youtuber but unfortunately, it's not available in my country or device so, I'm stuck with "
Live Transcribe &amp; Notification" but it works fine as well as in my mother tongue, Filipino.

I like the Otter app, it eavesdrops for me on other conversations. I have a subscription. I use it on my phone and on the computer for certain online meetings. I like it because it hears everything on my computer and not just what's on Chrome. Chrome accessibility doesn't work for Zoom meetings.

There's Live Transcribe. It's fairly hit and miss, especially with noisy environments but it does pretty well as long as it can hold the context / conversation without major audio disruptions.

Use speech to text on your phone. I use the Otter transcription app. Sometimes it works so well it eavesdrops on conversations around me. There's also AVA. They both have free minutes to use, then you can get a subscription for more.

Hi Guys

Thank you so much for taking part in the last survey about Gaming Headsets.

Using your feedback, the project has moved forward significantly, and it's really encouraging how engaged and exited everyone is about it.

As a result of your amazing feedback last time, it has highlighted some areas that we still don't know enough about.

For that reason, I would like to ask if you would be kind enough to fill out this follow up survey? (Please see the link is below)

Thank you again for your help in the last survey and for participating in this follow up 😊

As always if you have any questions you would like to ask me directly, please feel free to do so.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VZbi7ZfQ5EK7tfONQn-_uJy1Y1X1HilFpTEqTD2V00dUQ05JSUdBWkY4VlFPVFNUOURVT0lQUk81UC4u

As a quick fix, and depending on the sound quality, Google's Live Transcribe app might help.

https://www.android.com/accessibility/live-transcribe/

It's available for Android, but I'm not sure about Apple yet.

Essentially, it listens for speech and then transcribes in real-time. You can read the text as it's transcribing or export it to a file for later. It might be worth trying with one of the recordings.

I'd love to tell you there is, but I haven't found them. It's frustrating and I hate every asshole who's ever done this to us, but I'm going to give you my solutions.

1. https://www.android.com/accessibility/live-transcribe/ it's a new thing, so haven't completely figured it out yet, but put them on speaker on a land phone or another mobile phone and run this app on your phone. it's decently accurate enough to get you through the phone call.
2. call them and keep annoying them asking them to repeat stuff, until they decide email is a better option out of frustration.

I use this:

Extra Loud Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker, Vibrating Alarm Clock for Heavy Sleepers Hearing Impaired Deaf Teens, Dual Alarm Clock with 7.5’’ Large Display, USB Charger, Dimmer, Snooze & Battery Backup https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BCKJFY4/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_KPZQ0M7A68KN2NC28DJP

I know you said the vibration alarm clocks don't work but im a heavy sleeper and this one works like a charm for me.

https://www.amazon.ca/Sonic-Alert-SBB500SS-Alarm-Shaker/dp/B000OOWZUK

I dont use it anymore though; I've just made a point of going to sleep around the same time and waking myself up at the same time regardless of what I'm doing that day. So I usually just wake up when I need to without an alarm. Occasionally when I'm tired I will sleep a bit later though and I have a light alarm clock. It just gradually makes my room brighter and it's a much nicer way to wake up.

https://www.amazon.ca/Philips-HF3520-Wake-Up-Coloured-Simulation/dp/B0093162RM

Those are my two solutions and they've worked for me. Other than that it's a matter of teaching him healthy sleeping habits. Other tricks are to set the alarm out of reach so that you have to get up to turn it off, no snooze, as soon as you wake up get up, I used to have a big glass of water there to drink, and then just move around or exercise. Do that for a month and he should have no issues waking up on his own.

I hope that helps!

Sensorineural hearing loss, a High school senior, ran into this problem. Zoom has captions called live transcript that needs to be set up by the host of the meeting.

Before live transcript I used Webcaptioner and Ava or Otter.ai.

It's not your fault if your school is a dick, but if you really needed something, you would have put in the work and effort to look into alternatives, but it doesn't sound like you have.

Otter.ai has been a godsend for me. It records, transcribes, and is searchable after the call is over. It directly integrates with Zoom as well. 40 min and under are free, but if you pay $9.99 a month I think you get 4K minutes.

I don't know if it is waterproof enough, but Bond touch bracelets do something like this. You'd have to be able to feel the vibration over the vibration of the power washer and you'd need a way to have your cell phone relatively close. The good thing is that the person "alerting" you does not have to be close. They would have their own bracelet and you could signal back that you received the "alert".

I came here to say the same thing. I am hearing, and I have tried a number of different ear protection options for shooting. These are the ones that reduce the sound the most, of all the ones I have used, and have microphones built in so you control how kuch sound you get. Any loud noise results in the mics shutting down instantly.

Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Pro High Noise Reduction Rating Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff for Indoor and Covered Ranges or Other Extremely Loud Shooting Environments (R-01902), Large by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007BGSI5U/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EQVKH60FFN7A0JN0NGBA?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1

Could it actually have been Cactus Cooler, the drink? https://www.amazon.com/Cactus-Cooler-Orange-Pineapple-Soda/dp/B002GUN5RW

Kids are hard on hearing aids, so it can be anything. Do you have a hearing aid drier? If not, I would consider purchasing one, it really helps. The one I have is a Zephyr model.(https://www.amazon.com/Zephyr-Dry-Store-Dehumidifier-Maintenance/dp/B001CNGUQC/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&amp;keywords=hearing+aid+dryer&amp;qid=1609647419&amp;sr=8-10)

It's pricey, but well worth it. Buy extra desiccant packs for it to replace every two months.

I have an alarm clock called The Skull by Sonic Alert. It gets decently loud and has adjustable pitch, and it also has lights and comes with a vibrator on a cord that goes under your pillow or mattress. Works very well for me.

Edit: link to Amazon

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.goodvibes&amp;hl=en

it's apparently on the google play store too. I'm in the US, and I can see it, so I think it works in the US.

Otherwise, you can try googling for the apk file on the "high seas" and just side-load it.

If you have an Android phone that has split-screen capability, you could try Live Transcribe by Google.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.audio.hearing.visualization.accessibility.scribe

NB: I don't use it - but I just tried it with my phone with split screen. I put a YouTube video in the first half and LT in the 2nd half. It works reasonably well.

If you have an Andriod phone, you could try Live Transcribe by Google.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.audio.hearing.visualization.accessibility.scribe

NB: I've never tried it

Another suggestion (if he uses a corded phone) is to get him an amplifier which can be connected between his phone and handset, for example this one: https://www.amazon.com/ClearSounds-WIL95-UltraClear-Telephone-Amplification/dp/B006FY7IVY/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?dchild=1&amp;keywords=phone+amplifier&amp;qid=1601152351&amp;sr=8-8

Then he wouldn't really have to adapt to something new. :)

Beats Studio headphone, in my situation, works.

Another option you can try is the bone conducting headphones. There one brand: Amazon it has worked great for me.

HoH here.

Worst thing that someone has said? "Nevermind" when you ask them to repeat what they said.

What makes me feel uncomfortable? Lack of access really (I'm looking at you movie theatres with broken captioning and staff that do nothing to fix it). That and inspiration porn videos (deaf kid with cochlear implants "hearing for the first time". We are not circus freaks, here to give people a feel good moment.

What makes me feel uncomfortable? People that thinking that I must wear my hearing aids. I wear my hearing aids for hearing people, not for me.

What apps or devices help? My hearing aids help, but the fatigue is real. They do not give me 100 percent hearing, only more volume - not increased clarity. I still have issues with comprehension. I just ordered one of these on the recommendation of a Deaf friend https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010HWCEFY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1

Alarms/notifications? I have a smart watch that vibrates when I get a text or notification (I can select which phone apps notify me via my watch). For an alarm clock, Sonic Boom bed shaker is the best that I have seen.

When someone uses gestures? It doesn't offend me, since I grew up with this. My dad is deaf and lip reads, so we have always used our hands to communicate. If they are over the top/treat me like an idiot, then they are going to get backlash.

In a relationship, you figure out what works for you. My husband (for the most part) knows that he has to have my attention and to be facing me for me to understand. I will ask him to repeat stuff, or ask for clarification if what I understood does not make sense/fit the context of the conversation.

Assuming you're using Windows, here's how to set your audio to mono, so left and right channels will be combined.

If you'd like a hardware solution, one of these will do it for you as well.

Use the link:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stereomatch.hearing.aid

Or search for Hearing Aid for Oreo.

If you have android version below Oreo 8.0, Google Play will not show it.

I have this alarm: ShakeAwake Vibrating Alarm Clock.

It's thin so it goes under my pillow (in the pillowcase) and shakes me awake in the morning. I just reach under my pillow to turn it off or snooze. It doesn't wake my husband up as long as I turn it off quickly. It runs off one battery and has been working well for me for years.

I don't know if you're still reading this, but check this forum out.

https://www.amazon.com/Aftershokz-AS600SG-Titanium-Conduction-Headphones/dp/B018XNGQOE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496336704&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=trekz