Technology for Hearing Loss: A Starter Guide
Hearing loss creeps up quietly. The television gets louder, phone calls become a strain, and group conversations turn into guesswork. Hearing aids are part of the answer, but they are far from the only help available. A good deal of everyday technology can put words back in front of you, often for free.
Here is a calm overview of what is out there, from the phone in your pocket to services made just for Australians with hearing loss. If you are helping an older parent get online, see our wider guide to helping a parent go online.
Quick answer
Your phone can show live captions of speech and phone calls, turning talk into text on the screen. Your TV can show subtitles, and TV headphones or a soundbar can make speech clearer. Hearing aids help most across the board, with real government funding available. And the free, government-funded National Relay Service helps with phone calls when hearing is difficult. Start with the free features, then add what you need.
On your phone
Modern phones can turn speech into text as it is spoken. A feature often called live captions or live transcribe shows the words on your screen, which helps in a noisy cafe or when someone speaks quickly. During phone calls, some phones can caption the other person’s words too, so you can read along if you miss something. These are built in and free, found in the Accessibility settings.
You can also turn up call volume, switch on a flashing alert for calls and texts, and pair the phone directly with many hearing aids so calls play straight into them. Our roundup of the best apps for seniors includes captioning and transcription tools worth trying.
For the television
The television is where hearing loss shows up first for many people. Three things help. Subtitles put the dialogue on screen, and you can make them larger. TV headphones let you set your own volume without blasting the room. A soundbar can make speech clearer by separating voices from background music and effects. Any one of these can transform an evening’s viewing, and they work well together.
Hearing aids
Hearing aids remain the most complete help, and they are cleverer and smaller than they used to be. Many connect to your phone and TV, and there is genuine funding to bring the cost down. Our guide to hearing aids in Australia explains the government Hearing Services Program, which gives many pensioners fully subsidised aids, and how to start with a hearing check.
The National Relay Service, and how it helps
This is a free Australian Government service for people who are Deaf or have hearing or speech difficulty, and it makes the phone usable again. You choose the style of call that suits you:
- Captions. You speak normally and read the other person’s words on a screen as a relay officer captions them, with only a second or two’s delay.
- Type and read. You type your side of the call and read their replies, a bit like texting, on a phone, tablet or computer.
- SMS relay and voice relay. Simpler options that work from an ordinary phone if you prefer not to use an app.
- Video relay. For Auslan users, a relay officer signs and speaks for you over video, during business hours.
It is free, it is confidential, and most options run around the clock. You register once at accesshub.gov.au, then make calls through the National Relay Service app or website. If you would rather have a dedicated device, there are also amplified phones and captioned phones that show the caller’s words on a screen. An audiologist, your GP, or a hearing support group such as Deaf Connect or Hearing Australia can point you to the right one.
It is also worth checking whether any Seniors Card discounts apply to devices that could help.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: technology for hearing loss
Can my phone really show captions of what people say?
Yes. Live caption features turn speech into text on the screen, and some phones caption phone calls too. They are free and built in.
What helps most with the television?
Subtitles, TV headphones and a soundbar all help. Many people use subtitles plus one of the other two for clear, comfortable viewing.
What is the National Relay Service?
It is a free, government-funded Australian service that helps Deaf and hard-of-hearing people make phone calls, using captions, typed text, SMS or video relay. You register at accesshub.gov.au and call through the app, website or an ordinary phone.
Do I have to get hearing aids?
Not necessarily. Many free phone and TV features help a lot. Hearing aids do the most overall, and government funding is available if you choose them.
Can hearing aids connect to my phone?
Many can. They can play phone calls, music and TV sound straight into the aids. Ask your audiologist which models offer it.
