by Center for Hearing and Communication
The Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) is one of the leading non-profit hearing health organizations in the United States, with clinical centers in New York and Florida. CHC audiologists and hearing specialists compiled this guide to reflect their hands-on expertise in assistive technology assessment, fitting, and access.
The guide explains major categories of hearing assistive technology in plain language: captioned and amplified telephones, FM and infrared classroom listening systems, hearing loops for public venues, and alerting devices that signal alarms, doorbells, phone rings, and baby sounds through flashing lights, vibration, or extra-loud tones. It also notes that audiologists can help users select appropriate devices, and that some captioned phones are available at no cost through FCC-funded programs.
The guide benefits deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals of all ages, their families, and professionals such as teachers, employers, and social workers who want an accessible and practical overview of everyday hearing assistive technologies.
Ava is an ADA-compliant live captioning app that converts speech into real-time, color-coded text for deaf and hard-of-hearing users in one-on-one and group conversations. It integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams and supports more than 50 languages.
Ava
The Urban Xplorer is a lightweight, adjustable folding white cane made from aerospace aluminium, designed for blind and low-vision users navigating city environments. It comes in four sizes (Small through X-Large) and features a redesigned dome tip, hardened aluminium joints, and a foam grip. The cane is built to handle common urban obstacles such as cobblestones, sewer grates, and uneven sidewalks.
Awarewolf
Google Live Transcribe is a free Android app that converts speech and surrounding sounds into real-time on-screen captions, making everyday conversations more accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Developed in partnership with Gallaudet University, it supports more than 120 languages and processes all audio on-device for privacy.
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