5 Useful iPhone Apps for the Hearing Impaired
One of the most unique and useful qualities of modern smartphones like the iPhone is their ability to facilitate new improvements to the quality of life for individuals who are handicapped.
This may be particularly true for the hearing impaired. Although dozens of different apps designed to assist hearing impaired people are available, these are particularly high-quality and useful.
Purple Communications makes it possible for someone who cannot hear to make phone calls and even video calls. It includes a range of different options for different situations. For instance, you can make VRS (video relay service) calls in which you contact a trained operator who assists you in communicating with the person you are calling. You can also use the app to make video phone calls, which is the perfect solution when you need to speak with someone who understands sign language. It also includes the ability to leave video messages. The Purple Communications app is available for no charge.
2: Tap Tap
Tap Tap is an extremely unique, creative and useful app. It is designed to provide a visual alert when some type of loud noise takes place around you, such as a person shouting or a car horn honking. It will make your iPhone vibrate and flash lights whenever the alert is triggered; you can adjust its sensitivity depending on the noise level of your surroundings. The app is available for a one-time payment of $2.99.
3: ClearCaptions
ClearCaptions is a simple but brilliant app that adds subtitles to ordinary voice phone calls. The audio portion of the call still works normally, but the captions are displayed on the iPhone’s screen at the same time. You can install the app on your phone for free. It works for conversations carried on in both English and Spanish.
4: Subtitles
Many DVDs and Blu-Ray discs include the option to turn on subtitles for the movie you wish to watch. However, there are exceptions — and if you wish to see a new release in a traditional theater, you will not have that option at all. The Subtitles app can be the perfect solution. It gives you access to subtitles for a huge library of different movies, allowing you to read these subtitles on your phone while you watch the movie on the big screen. Both new and old movies are including in the app’s ever-growing database, with 20 different languages represented. The app costs $0.99.
5: Captionfish
Captionfish gives you the ability to stream trailers for upcoming movie releases; these trailers are optimized with captions for viewing by the hearing impaired. Except for this optimization, these trailers are identical to those aired in major movie theaters and on TV to promote movies to the non-hearing impaired. Perhaps even more useful, however, this app makes it extremely easy for you to find theaters near you that are accessible to the hearing impaired, as well as to view details about their shows, addresses, schedules, contact information and other details. There is no charge to use Captionfish.
Guest post contributed by Rebecca Chang on behalf of NHC. Rebecca is a freelance health writer and writes about the very best technology in hearing aids. Rebecca has an extensive background as a health care professional. She sharing her experience on various online health blogs.